Veer Savarkar: The Forgotten Flame of India’s Freedom Struggle
In the grand narrative of India’s freedom struggle, there exists a name that stirs passion, pride,and power in the heart of every true Indian nationalist Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, affectionatelyknown as Veer Savarkar. A man misunderstood by some and misrepresented by many,Savarkar was a visionary revolutionary, poet, orator, social reformer, and staunch patriot whosecontributions to Bharat Mata are far too immense to be brushed aside.
Let me take you on a journey not of a mere man, but of a blazing soul whose fire for freedomnever dimmed. From his birth to his death, every chapter of Savarkar’s life screams sacrifice,courage, and unflinching commitment to the nation.
Early Life: A Flame is Born
Vinayak Damodar Savarkar was born on 28th May 1883, in the small village of Bhagur, near Nashik in Maharashtra. From a young age, he was deeply patriotic. His mother passed away when he was just nine, and his father died four years later, leaving young Savarkar and hissiblings orphaned. But hardship only made him stronger. Under the guardianship of his elder
brother Ganesh (Babarao) Savarkar, he began immersing himself in nationalist thought.As a teenager, he formed the ‘Mitra Mela’, a youth organization dedicated to the goal of India’s independence. It would later evolve into ‘Abhinav Bharat’, a secret society inspired by the revolutionary movements in Europe. While others were petitioning the British, Savarkar was planning their overthrow..
Student Days in England: Planting Seeds of Revolution
Savarkar earned a scholarship and went to London in 1906 to study law at Gray’s Inn. But law was only a cover. In London, he became the heart of revolutionary activities. He wrote the first-ever Indian history of the First War of Independence of 1857, titled “The Indian War of Independence, 1857”.While British historians called it a ‘mutiny’, Savarkar rightfully declared it the first collective resistance to British rule.
The book was banned in India before it was even published. Yet, it was smuggled and secretly circulated, inspiring young revolutionaries across the subcontinent.
Savarkar was also associated with India House, a revolutionary hub where he mentored the likes of Madan Lal Dhingra, who assassinated Curzon Wyllie, a British official. For his links to revolutionary activity, Savarkar was arrested in 1909 in London and was to be deported to India.
The Escape Attempt: The Spirit of a True Warrior
Savarkar earned a scholarship and went to London in 1906 to study law at Gray’s Inn. But law was only a cover. In London, he became the heart of revolutionary activities. He wrote the first-ever Indian history of the First War of Independence of 1857, titled “The Indian War of Independence, 1857”.While British historians called it a ‘mutiny’, Savarkar rightfully declared it the first collective resistance to British rule.
The book was banned in India before it was even published. Yet, it was smuggled and secretly circulated, inspiring young revolutionaries across the subcontinent.
The Black Waters: A Hell Called Cellular Jail
In 1911, Savarkar was sentenced to two life terms — 50 years in the infamous Cellular Jail in the Andaman Islands, also known as Kala Pani. He was only 28 years old. Here, he endured inhuman torture. He was forced to manually extract oil from coconuts, often till his skin bled. He was denied paper, pen, and books. Yet, he composed poems in his mind and inscribed them on prison walls with nails and pebbles. Hundreds of verses — all memorized and later published.
But this was not mere survival. Even in prison, he organized prisoners, fought caste discrimination, and demanded better treatment. This was not the silence of surrender; it was the strategy of survival. Those who criticize Savarkar for writing petitions to the British often forget that this was a tactic, not capitulation. His goal remained India’s freedom, and he believed that living to fight another day was more valuable than dying unheard in a cell.
Post-Release: A New Kind of Freedom Fight
Savarkar was released from prison in 1924, under strict conditions. He was kept undersurveillance in Ratnagiri, barred from political activities. But he didn’t stop working for the nation.
He turned his energy towards social reform.He strongly advocated for:
•Eradication of untouchability
•Temple entry for Dalits
•Inter-caste dining and marriage
•Scientific temper over blind faith
At a time when caste orthodoxy ruled the social fabric, Savarkar opened temples to all and lived by example.
The Father of Hindutva
In 1923, Savarkar penned his most controversial yet influential work —“Hindutva: Who is a Hindu?” In this, he defined India as not just a piece of land, but a holy motherland (punyabhoomi) and fatherland (pitrubhumi) for Hindus. His Hindutva was cultural, not religious.
It was about unity, identity, and self-respect — a response to the increasing appeasement politics and foreign domination. He never preached hate. In fact, he admired Western progress, advocated for women’s rights,and was a rationalist. But he refused to compromise India’s interests for vote banks.
Political Career: A Voice of Resistance
After his release from internment, Savarkar became the president of the Hindu Mahasabha. He opposed the Congress policy of appeasement and separate electorates, warning that it would lead to India’s partition. His predictions came true in 1947.
He opposed Gandhi’s support for the Khilafat Movement, which he viewed as communal and dangerous. He was firm — India should not become a pawn in someone else’s religious agenda.
In 1948, following Mahatma Gandhi’s assassination by Nathuram Godse (a former RSS member who once admired Savarkar), Savarkar was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy.However, he was acquitted by the court due to lack of evidence.
Final Years and Death: The Flame Flickers, Not Dies
In his later years, Savarkar lived a quiet life in Mumbai, writing extensively and guiding nationalist thought. On 1st February 1966, he began atma-samarpan (self-willed death) by refusing food and medicines. He passed away peacefully on 26th February 1966, aged 82.
Even in death, he was defiant — asking for no rituals, no mourning, and no ceremonies. Just service to the nation.
Legacy: MisunderstoodYet Immortal
The left-liberal narrative has often tried to vilify or erase Veer Savarkar. But truth, like the sun, can only be hidden for so long. The first political prisoner, the first ideological historian of 1857,the first voice of Hindutva, and a relentless social reformer — Savarkar was many things rolled into one.
He was not perfect, but he was patriotic to the core. He didn’t seek votes, fame, or position. All he wanted was freedom — not just political, but social, cultural, and intellectual freedom for Bharat.
Conclusion: The Man India Owes a Lot To
Veer Savarkar’s life is a testament to the power of ideas, the strength of sacrifice, and the beauty of undying love for the motherland. As a proud Indian, I believe his rightful place in our history is not in the shadows but among the brightest stars of our freedom movement.
He didn’t just live in British India — he fought it with everything he had.Let us not allow time, politics, or prejudice to forget Veer Savarkar — the man who gave us the cry of “Hindustan for Hindus”, not to divide, but to unite under the banner of a culturally rich and sovereign Bharat.