Veer Savarkar : The unsung hero of the Indian freedom struggle against the British

On the occasion of Veer Savarkar’s Death Anniversary  (5th March 2025 by Tithi)

Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, popularly known as Veer Savarkar was the unsung hero of the Indian freedom struggle against the British rule (1906-47). He made an outstanding contribution to this great cause. Leaders like Gandhi, Nehru and Bose adopted Savarkar’s main philosophies, but many years later. At the time of Independence in 1947, many prominent leaders of the Congress Party, including its President, were members of Savarkar’s secret revolutionary society, called ‘The Abhinav Bharat’. He was the main source of their inspiration and, yet, was never given any credit for this.

Savarkar suffered terribly for 27 years at the hands of the English rulers. He spent 10½ years of hard labour in jail, in Andaman Islands, 1,000 miles off east coast of India, followed by further 3 years in various jails in India and then 13½ years in internment there as well. Despite having suffered this appalling persecution by the British rulers, Savarkar had the greatness to proclaim, “I never hated the English just because they were English.” He sincerely believed in the universal brotherhood of man.

In prison, Savarkar also faced religious fanaticism from Muslims. Although he was in a helpless condition, he fought against their tyranny and defeated them and in the end won their respect. Yet he said in 1927, “I never hated Muslims nor even despised them.” He was truly a Humanist.

During his internment of 13½ years, Savarkar was forced to live in a remote place called Ratnagiri and could move within the District but was forbidden to take part in politics. Undaunted by this, he concentrated on the task of social reforms and had to fight against the entrenched attitudes of orthodox people.

After his release from internment in 1937, Savarkar fearlessly opposed Gandhi’s policy of perpetual capitulation to Muslim demands, as it was clearly proving to be disastrous to the Nation. For this reason, Savarkar was much misunderstood and maligned, which unfortunately continues to be the case even today. But unlike many public figures of his times, he did not abandon his principles to suit the public mood.

Shri. VS Godbole has compiled some unknown facts about Veer Savarkar, which we present in brief here.

1970 : Mrs Indira Gandhi’s Government issued a postal stamp in honour of Savarkar

1972 : Balarao Savarkar, the private secretary to Veer Savarkar started to publish Savarkar’s biography in four volumes. First part – Ratnagiri Era was published on 23 July. At the publication ceremony, Mr Balasaheb Desai, a well-known Congress leader was present. Desai was formerly the Home Minister of Bombay Province and later of Maharashtra province. Justice Bhole of the Scheduled caste was also present at the ceremony.

1983 : 25 February : Prem Vaidya starts his shooting of a documentary on Savarkar to cover the period of Savarkar’s imprisonment on the Andaman Islands.

26^th February was the Death Anniversary of Veer Savarkar. Well-known Marathi writer Purushottam Laxman Deshpande was on Andaman Islands. He visited the cell where Savarkar was kept and was overwhelmed by emotions. The cell was only 13 by 7 foot. Deshpande then addressed the Maharashtrians who had gathered outside the cell and made a powerful speech. It was astonishing that a Socialist and admirer of Gandhi and Nehru all his life could make such a speech and pay tributes to Savarkar. Deshpande said the following :

* The punishments suffered by Savarkar are described in his book ‘My Transportation for Life’ However, it is my conviction that he has not described even 10% of what he actually suffered, because he did not want pity or sympathy. He wanted the youth to come forward and say – ‘I too am prepared to suffer like Savarkar for our Nation.’

* We do not even read what he had preached.

* Persons like Savarkar never die, nor ever say goodbye. They are eternal. Even one line or one word from them gives us inspiration.

* Persons like Savarkar can never die by any vicious attacks, or neglect or propaganda against them. They are self-made. They live like the great Banyan trees providing comforts to others in their hour of need.

* We need to think how his thoughts could be spread in all the Indian languages.

* So much has happened here that every Indian should come here and bow in respect of freedom fighters like Savarkar.

Deshpande concluded his speech by saying, “To remind our people every year, there should be a day of celebrations, right here in the Cellular Jail on a national level. And it should be presided by the highest authority of the country.”

May : Government of India documentary on Veer Savarkar was passed by the Board of Censor for release in English and 15 Indian languages

1984 : 1 March : NT Ramarao, the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh saw the film ‘Veer Savarkar’ in his own studio-theatre in Hyderabad. He commented, “I very much wanted to meet this great man during my younger days but could not. I am moved by this film.”

23 March : A reputed documentary film-maker from Chennai – Shri. Ravi Varma wrote to Prem Vaidya, “Yesterday there was a projection of your film ‘Veer Savarkar’ at Max Muller Bhavan under the auspices of the Savarkar Centenary Committee. It has turned out to be a great film – Every Indian should be compulsorily shown this film … A very effective and touching approach to the subject, touches not only the heart but it makes the viewer think … I hope the films on freedom-fighters which is on the anvil of Films Division would be a honest as your film and just not end as propaganda stuff …”

4 April, Times of India described Prem Vaidya’s documentary on Veer Savarkar as the Best documentary of the year. On 26 April, Prem Vaidya’s documentary on Veer Savarkar was given the Filmfare’s award and the Diploma at the Tashkent Film Festival.

10 May : Members of Films Division of Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India formed Films Division Rasik Mandal. They invited Shree PL Deshpande renowned Maratha Litterateur for the inauguration ceremony. To their surprise PL talked about Film Division’s production on revolutionary Savarkar and the involvement of the staff-members on this memorable documentary. At the end of his speech, he presented Shri. Prem Vaidya, the producer, a book – Five Stormy Years – Savarkar in London, written by Dr Hareendra Srivastava of New Delhi.

6 June : Indians paid homage to Savarkar in Committee Room number 14 of the British Houses of Parliament. Welcoming the participants, Rt Honourable Reg Freeson, M.P. (Labour) said, “We are not just allowing you to hold a meeting here, we are in fact inviting you to have your celebrations here.”

Lord Brockway, 97, just four years younger than Savarkar, was unable to attend. His message was read out by Mr Freeson. It read, “We are right in celebrating the centenary of the birth of Veer Savarkar. It is difficult to describe his service to Indian freedom. First, he gave inspiration by his books, using Mazzini’s biography, as an example to India. He differed from Gandhiji in urging an armed struggle. About this we may differ, but Savarkar inspired many by his own sacrifices. He was sentenced to transportation for life. It was characteristic of him that he asked whether the British Raj would last that long. He not only opposed the British occupation of India but also took a leading part in seeking to end the ranks among Indians including untouchability. Savarkar announced that he was retiring from public life in 1948, but in fact he carried on. He was 83 when he died and all of us who have taken any part in India’s struggle must remember him.”

Richard Balfe, the Member of European Parliament (Labour) said, “It was a great pity that Savarkar had to spend 27 years in jail and internment. If not, Indian politics would have taken a different direction, adopted a different strategy and philosophy. He faced the wrath of the British press, but stood up courageously. When you know you are right, you invariably come out successfully in the end. People respect those who have firm convictions of justice and righteousness of their cause. Savarkar was such a man.”

Mr Sonapatki said, “What a wonderful coincidence that in this Parliament, once the British Prime Minister Lord Salisbury declared ‘we must bleed India and the lancets should be applied to those parts where the blood is the thickest.’ And in the very same Parliament, we are paying respects to Veer Savarkar who played a great part in the Indian freedom struggle from the British rule.”

20 June : Dr Lakshmi Sehgal, formerly Captain Lakshmi, of Rani Jhansi Regiment of Subhashchandra Bose’s Indian National Army – saw Prem Vaidya’s documentary on Savarkar and commented, “It should be widely shown to children all over the country.”

1985 : 8 June : A commemorative plaque of Veer Savarkar was fixed by the GLC on the house, previously known as ‘India House’ where Savarkar had stayed. It was inaugurated by Lord Fenner Brockway, aged 97. People in the audience requested him to sit while addressing. He refused, stood up and spoke eloquently for three minutes. He said, “I am proud to unveil this plaque, but this should have been done your Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.”

1986 : Barrister Vitthalrao Gadgil was a Minister in the cabinets of Indira Gandhi and also Rajiv Gandhi. He wrote an article about Savarkar’s case at the International Court of Justice at The Hague in 1911. He said, “I am publishing this judgement to show my deep respect for Savarkar.”

(Courtesy : Excerpts from satyashodh.com/SavarkarFacts; 10 May 2003)

Persons like Savarkar never die, nor ever say Goodbye. They are eternal. Even one line or word from them gives us inspiration !