SCIM: V. D. Savarkar a visionary personality (A long post)
imppio
that his literarry achievements which are really vast, are not even
mentioned in this.
cheers,
imppio
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Veer Savarkar
Swatantrya Veer Savarkar: The Eternal Hero
Here is brief summary of just Savarkar's 'firsts'. These excerpts are
from 'Veer Savarkar' by Dhananjay Keer. Incidentally Mr. Keer was
conferred Padma Bhushan in 1971 for this and other biographies. Mr.
Keer himself of a former 'untouchable harijan' caste, worked with
Savarkar on the first Pan-Hindu temple in Ratnagiri.(Veer Savarkar By
Dhananjay Keer, Sangam Books Ltd, London,2nd Ed, 1988, 569 pages ISBN
086132 182 0).
Please note the real title is Swatantrya Veer -Hero of the freedom
struggle and not just Veer.
Savarkar - The crown prince of revolutionaries, has many firsts to his
credit, here is the list:
He was the first Indian political leader to call for Swadeshi, and the
first Indian leader who publicly performed a bonfire of foreign
clothes (1906). (MANY YEARS BEFORE GANDHIJI)
He was the first Indian student who was rusticated from a hostel of an
institution aided by British Govt (reason was the bonfire).
He was the first Indian leader of India to daringly proclaim absolute
political independence of India as her goal (EVEN BEFORE LOKMANYA
TILAK called Swaraj a birth right)
Savarkar was the first barrister who was refused the degree on account
of his political line of thought by the British Government.
He was the first graduate to lose the degree from an Indian University
(Bombay University) for his love of independence.
(The same University rescinded its 1911 decision after 49 years in
April 1960 and reconferred the degree. Meanwhile Pune and Nagpur had
conferred honorary Doctorates on Savarkar).
Savarkar was again the first Indian leader to invest the problem of
Indian independence with international importance.
Savarkar was the first Indian leader who cleared the myth British
historians propagated and showed that 1857 war of independence was not
a mutiny of sepoys in few regiments but a revolt of Indian population
against the British sustained over for 2 years. He also highlighted
the cruelty of British Generals during that period who slaughterd
outright ordinary Indians on flimsiest pretexts. He was the first
Indian leader to celebrate 50 th anniversary of 1857.
Savarkar was the first Indian leader to organize revolutionary
movement in the 'enemy's camp' right in the heart of London.
He was the first author whose work was proscribed by the governments
of two countries (India & UK) even before it was printed or published.
(his book 'War of Independence of 1857' which was published
clandestinely in US and India Thanks to Dr.Kurien, an Indian
christian)
Savarkar was the first rebel leader of India who refused to recognize
the authority of the British Court of Law.
He was the first political prisoner in the history of world the issue
of whose arrest was fought out in the International Court at the
Hague.
Savarkar was the first political prisoner in the political history who
was sentenced to 50 year's transportation.
Savarkar was the first poet in the world, who deprived of pen and
paper, composed and wrote his poems on the prison walls with thorns
and pebbles, learnt with Vedic tenacity more than ten thousand lines
of his poetry for years till they reached his country thru the mouth
of others, and showed how since dawn of humanity sacred Vedas were
kept circulating from generation to generation.
Savarkar also designed the first Indian flag to be unfurled overseas
(by Madam Cama, in Stuttgart Germany, on August 22, 1907 at the
International Socialist Congress, where Britsh and French socilaists
moved a resolution to call India an oppressed country).
He was the first Indian political leader to build a pan-Hindu temple
where former 'untouchable' was a priest.
He was the first president of Marathi Sahitya Parishad (Council of all
Marathi writers and poets)
He was the only Hindu leader honored by SGPC (Sikh religious body)
Some interating facts about Savarkar
Some interesting facts you should know :
1. Savarkar at the age of 15 took a vow in front of Goddess Durga to
drive out British from his Motherland to make her free and great once
again.
2. At age 14 he wrote ballads of Tanaji Malusare and Shivaji.
3. At the age 17 he started a Mitra mela which in four years sprouted
into Abhinav Bharat Society, the foremost revolutionary gruop, which
later led to a web of revolutionaries in Bengal, Punjab and other
states.
4. It was on Lokmanya Tilak's recommendation that got Savarkar a
scholarship by India House (by Shri Shyamji Krishna Varma who later
became Savarkar's follower)
5. During his stay in London, Savarkar shipped bomb recipes and
pistols in books with hollow cavities carved out from the pages.
6. Unlike Gandhi and Nehru who were given Class A prisoner status,
Savarkar was given Class C and was made to drive an oil mill He had to
make mulch coir and make ropes out of it with bare hands. Even in
prison forcible conversions of poor Hindus to Islam were takning
place. Savarkar fought for the prison reforms and put a stop to these
conversions. He eliminated untouchability among Hindu prisoners in the
Andamans.
7. After the arrest of his brother, who also was given a life term in
Andamans, and banning of his books in 1909, the British confiscated
all his family's personal property. The utensils, clothes were thrown
out on the street. His family's belongings were nothing but the
clothes they were wearing at the time. All this while he was in
Europe. This victimization of his family made him return to London
where he was arrested.
On this sacrifice Savarkar's poetic words are; "We have not taken this
vow to go "Sati", to jump into the burning fire knowing the pain it
may cause, blindly. This enlightened sacrifice comes naturally to
Hindus" (Many thousands of Hindu women committed Jouhar and many many
Hindus have donned kesariya before).Many youths those days had this
poem of Savarkar and the preface his book on Mazzini by heart, and
they used to recite it every day. (One such then youth is Rev.
Pandurang Shastry Athavale, Leader of Swadhayay movement, a parivar of
6 million plus Hindus).Now compare that to Nehru. Indira Gandhi writes
in her autobigraphy that Nehru made her give away a "foreign made"
doll Nehru had bought her from London. That's a BIG sacrifice, HAH ..
8.Savarkar wrote Mazzini's biography, The history of 1857 war of
independence, epic poems Kamla, he wrote news reports from UK, he
wrote Hindutva - a unique contribution to Hindu philosophy he wrote
novels, he wrote plays, he wrote a grand study of Indian history. He
wrote songs, he wrote 'stotras'. One of his song " praise of Godess
Liberty " is in 10 th grade texts in Marathi.
9.Unfortunately for us, Savarkar's manuscript on Sikh history was lost
and was never found.
10.Savarkar's followers in London also worked with the Gadhar Party in
USA mobilising American support for Indian independence movement.
Theyorked worked with other European leaders also. The 1912 demands by
Wilhem Kaiser's German govt from the British included that India be
given independence.
11.In 1960 Savarkar exhorted India to make atomic bombs.
12.Savarkar is the only author who tried to put "Kundalini' and sapta
chakra experience of a yogi in modern medical terms. Flag Savarkar
designed for Hindus has the lotus Kundlini and kripan (a sword) for
the defence
13.The book Savarkar worked the longest on is 'Six Gloriuos Epochs of
Indian History'- This book has nearly thousand references. This is the
true Indian history, not the canned 'british' version of history. If
you are a Hindu, you should atleast read this book to know your side
of the history.
Judge the man by his words and his actions before you pass an opinion
based on British/Nehru inspired rumors passed on by the nitwits and
their followers the netwits.
Veer Savarkar's 'prophecies' which came remarkably true.
Savarkar's political realism and foresight has proved to be correct
and unfailing.
In 1925 Savarkar predicted that the separation of Sindh from Bombay
province for appeasing Moslems would be disastrous precedent, would
destory Sindh Hindus and would pique the appetite of Pan-islamists.
We know it snow balled into creation of Pakistan. Plight of Hindus in
Sindh keeps getting even worse.
Savarkar foretold (in his speech on Aug 2, 1942 a week before the
start of Quit India movement) that the political leadership of Gandhi
and Nehru which according to him lacked historical perspective, would
end up dividing India on the basis of religion.
It came true.
Savarkar said that if once Pakistan came into being it would raise an
army and always disturb the peace, industrialisation and the progress
of India.
It came true. 3 wars with Pakistan. We have Punjab, Kashmir terrorism
supported by Pakistan, Bombings in Bombay at sensitive strategic
locations. It is still coming true.
He said in January 1954, that Mao hoodwinked Nehru over Tibet and
China would pull down the pillars of Panchsheel any moment. (He also
commented "In the very six years (after 1947) we criminally wasted,
China had equipped her whole nation with most modern and upto date
arms and without caring the least for feelings of India, had
completely overrun Tibet and destroyed the only buffer state.") (Only
oyther Indian leader to protest vehemantly against China's take over
of Tibet was Dr.Ambedkar).
It came true and China invaded India in 1962.
He warned in 1941 about Moslem infiltration to Assam from East Bengal.
It came true and is coming true even now. We have 15 to 20 million
illiegal Moslems (100,000 of them in Bombay itself is acknowledged by
the Maharashtra Govt). Thanks to Sayyad Shahbuddin and Ghani Khan
Choudhari, Kishan Ganj, Malda districts of Bihar and Bengal are open
havens for BD Moslems who are being made into voters of India
overnight. Lately Hiteshwar Saikia is after Moslem voters in Assam, ad
you know more voters for Congress can be created by importing Moslems
from across the border.
In 1910, on the way to Andamans to India Savarkar envisioned a naval
base guarding this southeastern gate of India.
Guess what Chinese are getting active at a nearby port in Burma.
In 1937 Savarkar expressed fear that Congress would one day throttle
Vande Mataram.
Within a few years Congress did sacrifice Vande Mataram to appease
Moslems (prior to Partition).
Savarkar sounded a warning about the fate of kashmir in 1938.
We have paid for ignoring his warnings in the 3 wars, 300,000 Kashmiri
who are made refugees in their own country are paying for it now.
A comparison of Savarkar with other contemporary leaders.
Savarkar was a rebel and revolutionary to the last breath (Times of
India, Feb. 27, 1966)
Savarkar was the first Indian leader to give the message of absolute
political independence and unity to the nation. But the tragedy of
Savarkar was that although he was a secularist to the backbone, a
great lover of science and a sturdy nationalist, he was cruelly
represented as an orthodox leader by those partial to Gandhi and
Nehru. (Savarkar said in June 1963 that it was rediculous and
irrational to follow astrology when Russians and Americans are
striving to land on the Moon and Mars. Earlier Savarkar refused to
consider a cow as holy and chose to call it only as a very useful
animal). Savarkar was the first India n leader to give India the
message of secularism and modernism before the advent of Nehru and MN
Roy. Savarkar was more rational than Gandhi, Cripps or Jayprakash
Narayan and as rational As Nehru and Roy. He was an epic poet and a
great rationalist. He was a great author and the Demoshenes of his age
in India. His political realism and foresight proved to be correct and
unfailing (examples given in part 3).
Great men are sometimes obsessed with one idea. Likewise Savarkar was
obsessed, his critics say, with the idea of Hindu Militarisation. He
was not an imperialist or a militarist. It was his sincere desire that
having suffered slavery often, India should not fall a prey to any
militarist and aggressive country. So many times in the history the
holy land of Hindus was devastated and sacked by hoards of barbarians
(Huns, Scythians, etc ), so inferior to them in language, religion,
culture, philosophy, mercy and all the soft attitudes of man and God;
but superior to them in strength alone- the strength that summed up in
two words - Fire and Sword! It is in this sense Savarkar wanted Hindus
to militarise so never again shall their country be devastated.
Savarkar was the foremost Indian leader to welcome the machine age and
he undertood that economic equality is the inevitable outcome of the
machine age. As regards the social equality, none of his great
contemporaries except Dr.Ambedkar, not even Jawaharlal Nehru fought
orthdoxy with such ruthlessness as did Savarkar.
Savarkar was dubbed a communalist because he said that the principle
of one man one vote should be followed (then opposed to by Muslim
leadership) and because he opposed Muslim Mauliavis and Christian
Missionaries trying to convert illiterate, ignorant and poor Hindus.
In every age the nation that had access to superior force defeated the
nations that did not have that advantage. Savarkar was the only leader
in India who openly said that India should have accession to a
superior device, weapon or force. Savarkar held that justice would go
down if not backed by a superior force. A nation, however tolerant,
just and cooperative would go down if it did not go match
(approximate) the power of surrounding nations (Lesson taught to India
by China war the hard way). India should believe in noble principles
for the progress of humanity but keep her superior weapon ready for
her own survival. This was the message of Savarkar to India.
Also beautifully worded by National poet Ramdharisingh "Dinkar"
'Kshamaa shobhati oos Bhujang ko Jis ke paas garal ho' forgiveness
befits only that Cobra that still carries the venom.
Savarkar on revolution (Nov.1909) - "Whenever the natural process of
national and political evolution is violently suppressed by the forces
of wrong, then revolution must step in as a natural reaction and
therfore ought to be welcomed as the only effective instrument to
reenthrone Truth and Right. You (the British) rule by bayonets and
under these circumstances it is a mockery to talk of constitutional
agitation when no constitution exists at all. But it would be worse
than a mockery, even a crime when there is a constitution that allows
the fullest and freeest developement of a nation. Only because you
(British) deny us a gun, we pick up a pistol. Only because you deny us
light, we gather in darkness to compass means to knock out the fetters
that hold out Mother down."
What others said about Savarkar.
Rajagopalachari -Savarkar to him was a national hero, a symbol of
courage, bravery and patriotism , an 'abhitirth' in the long battle
for freedom.
Subhash Chandra Bose wanted Savarkar to join the Congress after
Savarkar' s release in 1937.
M.N.Roy wanted Savarkar to devote his life again to the emancipation
of India on Savarkar's own line of thinking.
Dr. Rajendra Prasad, Dr.Radhakrishanan, YB Chavan felicited Savarkar
on Dec.1960
S.M.Joshi (the socialist leader) said he was inspired by Savarkar's
call for absolute political independence.
General Cariappa India's first Commander in Chief (C-in-C) in Dec.
1962 after the defeat of Indian Army in the China war said " Had India
listened to Savarkar and adopted his policy of militarization and
prepared herself she would not have been placed in this predicament.
Gyanpith award winner V.S.Khandekar said that Savarkar was great not
only the field of politics but also in the fields of poetry, courage
literature. His greatness had the colors of the rainbow. We are all
Lilliputians before Savarkar.
On Feb 3. 1966 Savarkar decided to surrender to death and simply
stopped taking any food or drink other than water. He had stopped
taking any medicine a month before that.
Congress MPs Violet and Joachim Alva (on Feb 5, 1966) wrote to
Savarkar "We humbly salute your unforgettable daring achievement -
Swimming the ocean and regaining freedom- will be long cherished in
the pages of freedom struggle"
Among the people who wrote concerned about his health were Jagjivan
Ram and then home minister Gulzarilal Nanda.
After 22 days on barely 5 to 6 teaspoonfuls of water a day, on
February 26 1966, Savarkar happily surrendered to Death whom he had
challenged since his youth. He was conscious to the last hour and did
not suffer any serious complications whatsoever.
S.A.Dange (Chairman of the Communist party) said of Savarkar " He was
one of the great anti-imperialist revolutionary".
PM Indira Gandhi said " Savarkar was a great figure of contemporary
India and his name is by-word for daring and patriotism. He was cast
in a mould of a classic revolutionary and countless people drew
inspiration from him."
Defence minister YB Chavan " Savarkar displayed a unique combination
of nationalism, bravery and social unity ".
Haribhau Pataskar ex Gov. of MP and congress leader said " Savarkar
was India's bravest son, a great literary genius, an inspiring poet
and a great orator."
M.C.Chagla (the then Education minister) said " Savarkar was a great
patriot and an illustrious son of India" he added " anyone living in
in this country who loved and drew inspiration from the great heritage
of India and was loyal to India was a Hindu. Revolutionaries like
Savarkar created an atmosphere which made it possible for Mahatma
Gandhi to succeed. It would be unpatriotic if the people of India
failed to give Savarkar a prominent place in the history of India".
(By the way 'Muslim' Chagla's definition of Hindu is close to
Savarkar's definition of a Hindu).
Savarkar in his will asked that nobody should observe hartal or close
his business to mourn over his death. This to avoid inconvenience to
common people.
He was cremated in electric crematorium per his wish because he
considered it more clean, efficient (eco-friendly in modern terms).
Manohar Bodas
MB
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