Swatantryaveer Savarkar

Vinayak Damodar Savarkar (28th May 1883 - 26th February 1966)

         Vinayak Damodar Savarkar was a politician and activist, who is credited with developing the Hindu nationalist political ideology Hindutva. A brief on him is presented here.
 

Qualities of vyashti (individual) welfare 

         Uncompromisingly radiant nationalism, intense urge for acquiring independence of the Nation and for establishing benevolent rule, striving hard without accepting defeat and without getting demoralised, undertaking an in-depth and comprehensive study of the Nation's present true condition and sacrificing personal life, status and worldly pleasures were the main qualities of Veer Savarkar. He attached more importance to the welfare of society than to his personal life. He and his family had to suffer untold hardships for utilising theirvyashti life for the overall good of the samashti (society) in the freedom struggle. 

Qualities of samashti welfare 

         He possessed the rare qualities required by a leader such as meeting and organising various nationalists for achieving the common goal of welfare of the Nation, imparting guidance to them on national issues, making skillful planning of freedom struggle, perseverance, endurance and patience. He was a visionary nationalist. He vehemently opposed the reservation policy, appeasement of non-Hindus and conversion of Hindus by other sects. His thoughts on the Nation were path breaking. He made Herculean efforts to create awareness among the masses about the harm being caused to the Hindus. He also made the people aware of the dangers that stared in the face of the Nation due to the harm being caused to Hinduism. His fearless and forthright writings, poems and speeches inspired the people to rise and fight for Bharat's independence.

Guiding message of Savarkar

1. When a person sets his goal, he becomes ready to sacrifice.
2. When we are away from our goal, we are unable to endure sufferings.
3. We should keenly observe the place of the enemy, collect all secret information about him and then work out a war strategy.
4. By constantly remaining a slave, we lose our self-esteem.

Savarkar's movement of purification
of converted Hindu prisoners in Andamans

         Savarkar reached the Andamans to undergo life imprisonment. The dreadful circumstances in the cellular jail in Andamans were instrumental in giving a concrete shape to his pride for Hinduism. He realised that due to the harassment and terror of the Pathan officers, the Hindu prisoners were converting to Islam. The Muslims had hatched a conspiracy to systematically spread Islam amongst the Hindu prisoners. Savarkar undertook an uphill task of opposing such malpractices in the Andaman jail. He had to commence the task of purification of converted Hindus in Andaman itself.

         Savarkar had often asserted that conversion brings about change in national loyalties. The effects of conversion are very serious and it brings about political disaster. But the impotent Gandhians of secular hue and socialists branded the movement of Hindu Sangh as communal. In fact appeasement of Muslims was itself a very distorted and unnatural type of communalism and history is witness to it that at last it bore very sore and poisonous fruits. The communal riots today are the fruits of the impotent secularism. The consolidation of the Hindus was the movement of consolidation of nationalist forces for the integration of the Nation.