Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, more commonly known as Veer Savarkar, was one of the most prominent freedom fighters. He was born on May 28, 1883. His father’s name was Damodarpant Savarkar and mother was Radhabai. He lost his parents at an early age. He was strongly influenced by his elder brother Ganesh (Babarao).
Savarkar was known for his bravery and so earned nickname ‘Veer’ that is a courageous person. He was influenced by his elder brother Ganesh who had played an influential role in his teenage life.
He established the Mitra Mela as a foundation towards the struggle for an independent Bharat. The members of this organization were inclined towards the vision of absolute political independence. This is the umbrella organization under which one of the first organized efforts towards the independence of India had started. It later went on to be called the Abhinav Bharat Society.
He was the revolutionary figure to first establish the concept of ‘Hindutva’. In his view, the social transformation had to be carried out logically, according to the time period of living. He believed in the foundation of the Hindutva in a wholesome way.
Before Savarkar’s entry in England, the general British public was hardly aware of indian unrest over British Rule in India. Savarkar took great efforts in studying the documents in various libraries in London and wrote a book on Indian war of Independence during 1857 which was demeaned by Britishers as mutiny of sepoy.
Savarkar acquired bomb-making techniques from Russians with the help of Irish revolutionaries. The technique was soon to reach India and put to use by many revolutionaries. His network of revolutionaries spread over continents.
Savarkar was arrested in London. While he was being transported to India, Savarkar attempted a pre-planned escape. The attempt failed but it attracted huge international attention which put Briton in an extremely uneasy situation. The story of this attempt to escape and its fall-out was covered by newspapers of 100+ countries. Indirectly the misrule of Britishers in India became talk of the world.
All restrictions on Savarkar were lifted in 1937. Since then he was warning that Gandhiji’s policy of appeasement of Muslims would lead to partition. It is clear that his relentless efforts for the existence of a free and independent country have been very under appreciated. With the risk and never-ending drive to see a free nation with the values of Hindutva, he truly stands to be a father figure of the nation.
