Vinayak Damodar Savarkar

Vināyak Dāmodar Sāvarkar (Marathi: विनायक दामोदर सावरकर) (born May 28, 1883 – February 26, 1966 in Bhagur) was an Indian politician and an Indian Independence Movement activist, who is credited with developing the Hindu nationalist political ideology Hindutva. Marathi (mr मराठी Marāṭhī) is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by the Marathi people of what is considered western India. Events 585 BC - A Solar eclipse occurs as predicted by Greek philosopher and scientist Thales, while Alyattes is battling Year 1883 ( MDCCCLXXXIII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Events 747 BC - Epoch (origin of Ptolemy 's Nabonassar Era 364 - Valentinian I is proclaimed Year 1966 ( MCMLXVI) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the 1966 Gregorian calendar. WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Bhagur is a city and a Municipal council in Nashik District in the state of Maharashtra The term " Indian independence movement " is diffuse incorporating various national and regional campaigns agitations and efforts of both Nonviolent and Militant For Veer Savarkar's book see Hindutva (book. Hindutva (Devanagari हिन्दुत्व "Hinduness" a word coined by Vinayak Commonly addressed as Veer Savarkar (वीर सावरकर, Brave Savarkar), he is considered to be the central icon of modern Hindu nationalist political parties. Hindu nationalism is a nationalist Ideology that sees the modern State of the Republic of India as a Hindu Polity His last years were clouded with accusations of involvement in Mahatma Gandhi's assassination. Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi ( Gujarati: મોહનદાસ કરમચંદ ગાંધી moɦən̪d̪äs kəɾəmʧən̪d̪ gän̪d̪ʱi (2 October 1869 – 30 January

Savarkar's revolutionary activities began when studying in India and England, where he founded student societies and publications, espousing the cause of complete Indian independence by revolutionary means. England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland Savarkar would publish The Indian War of Independence about the Indian rebellion of 1857 that would be banned by British authorities and was arrested in 1910 for his connections with the revolutionary group India House. The Indian Rebellion of 1857 began as a mutiny of Sepoys of British East India Company 's army on the 10th of May 1857 in the town of Meerut, India House was an informal Indian nationalist organisation based in London between 1905 and 1910 Following a failed attempt to escape while being transported from Marseilles, Savarkar was sentenced to 50-years imprisonment and moved to the Cellular Jail in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Marseille, ( English alt Marseilles mɑrˈseɪ — French: maʁsɛj locally — Provençal Occitan: Marselha maʀˈsijɔ The Cellular Jail (also known as Kālā Pānī, literally 'Black water' a term for the deep sea and hence exile situated in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands The Andaman & Nicobar Islands is a Union territory of India. Informally the territory's name is often abbreviated to A & N Islands, or ANI

While in jail, Savarkar would pen the work describing Hindutva, openly espousing Hindu nationalism. Hindu nationalism is a nationalist Ideology that sees the modern State of the Republic of India as a Hindu Polity He would be released in 1921 under restrictions after signing a controversial plea for clemency in which he renounced revolutionary activities. A pardon is the forgiveness of a crime and the penalty associated with it Travelling widely, Savarkar became a forceful orator and writer, advocating Hindu political and social unity. A writer is anyone who creates a written work although the word usually designates those who write creatively or professionally as well as those who have written in many different forms Serving as the president of the Hindu Mahasabha, Savarkar endorsed the ideal of Hindus as a distinct nation and of India as a Hindu Rashtra and controversially opposed the Quit India struggle in 1942. Akhil Bhāratīya Hindū Mahāsabhā (अखिल भारत हिन्दू महासभा All-Indian Hindu Assembly a Hindu nationalist organization was originally Hindu nationalism is a nationalist Ideology that sees the modern State of the Republic of India as a Hindu Polity The Quit India Movement (Bharat Chhodo Andolan or the August Movement) was a Civil disobedience movement launched in India in August 1942 in He became a fierce critic of the Indian National Congress and its acceptance of India's partition, and was one of those accused in the assassination of Indian leader Mahatma Gandhi, though he was acquitted by the Court. Indian National Congress-I (also known as the Congress Party and abbreviated INC) is a major Political party in India. The Partition of India was the partition of the British Indian Empire which led to the creation on August 14, 1947 and August 15, Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated on January 30 1948, shot at Point-blank range by Nathuram Godse, an activist of the Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi ( Gujarati: મોહનદાસ કરમચંદ ગાંધી moɦən̪d̪äs kəɾəmʧən̪d̪ gän̪d̪ʱi (2 October 1869 – 30 January He spent the last years of his life writing and expounding on Hindutva.

Early life

Vinayak Damodar Savarkar.

Vinayak Damodar Savarkar was born in the village of Bhagur, near the city of Nasik, in what is now Maharashtra. http//wwwmapsofindiacom/maps/maharashtra/roads/nashik_roadjpg Nashik (नाशिक Maharashtra ( Marathi: mahārāṣṭra, IPA) is a state located on the western coast of India. ^[1] He was one of four children – his brothers Ganesh (Babarao) and Narayan, and his sister Mainabai – born to Radhabai and Damodarpant Savarkar. His family was of Hindu and Marathi background, and belonged to the Chitpawan Brahmin community – his ancestral roots and heritage would be an important influence on Savarkar. A Hindu ( Devanagari: हिन्दू is an adherent of the philosophies and scriptures of Hinduism, a set of religious, Philosophical The Marathi people or Maharashtrians ( Marathi: मराठी माणसं or महाराष्ट्रीय are an Indo-Aryan ethnic group The Chitpavan, Chitpawan, or Konkanastha Brahmins (कोकणस्थ ब्राम्हण are a Brahmin community of Konkan, the Descending from a long line of jagirdars (landlords) and scholars of Sanskrit, the Savarkar family was well-respected and both parents encouraged and inculcated a love of learning in all their children. In Pakistan and India, a Jagir was a small territory granted by the ruler to an army chieftain in fairly short terms usually of three years but not extending beyond Sanskrit (sa संस्कृता वाक् saṃskṛtā vāk, for short sa संस्कृतम् saṃskṛtam) is a historical Savarkar's mother died when he was only nine years old, after suffering from an outbreak of cholera. Cholera, sometimes known as Asiatic cholera or epidemic cholera, is an infectious Gastroenteritis caused by the Bacterium For the next seven years, Savarkar was raised by his father until his father fell victim to plague in 1899. Bubonic plague is the best-known manifestation of the bacterial disease plague, caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis (formerly known as

Savarkar's elder brother Ganesh took the burdens of providing for the family,^[1] and would be a strong influence on the teenage Savarkar in this period of hardship. Despite financial difficulties, Babarao supported Savarkar's dreams for higher education. In this period, Savarkar had organised several local young men in a group called the Mitra Mela (Band of Friends), and soon began encouraging revolutionary and nationalist views and passions amongst the band. ^[2] In 1901, Savarkar was married to Yamunabai, the daughter of Ramchandra Triambak Chiplunkar, who supported Savarkar's university education. After passing his matriculation examination, Savarkar enrolled in the Fergusson College in the provincial capital of Pune (then Poona) in 1902. Fergusson College (FC is one of the well known colleges in India and is situated in the western city of Pune. Pune (ˈpuːneɪ Marathi: पुणे Hindi: पूना formerly Poona, is the second largest city in the state of Maharashtra ^[2]

As a young man and student, Savarkar was enthralled by the rising Swadeshi (Home-made) campaign, and the political struggle against the partition of Bengal in 1905. The Swadeshi ( Hindi: स्वदेशी movement, part of the Indian independence movement, was a successful economic strategy to remove the British The Partition of Bengal in 1905, was made on 16 October by then Viceroy of India, Lord Curzon. His views and passions were guided by a new generation of radical political leaders such as Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Bipin Chandra Pal and Lala Lajpat Rai. Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak (बाळ गंगाधर टिळक ( July 23 1856 - August 1 1920) was an Indian nationalist Bipin Chandra Pal ( Bangla:বিপিন চন্দ্র পাল was born on November 7, 1858 in Poil village in the Habiganj, (now Lala Lajpat Rai ( Punjabi: ਲਾਲਾ ਲਜਪਤ ਰਾਯ لالا لجپت راے Hindi: लाला लाजपत राय was an Indian ^[2] Absorbed immediately into nationalist activities, he began organising college students across Pune in the promotion of Swadeshi goods, boycotting foreign-made alternatives and promoting Indian culture in condemnation of sinister and unhealthy European influences. At the occasion of the Hindu festival of Dussehra in 1905, Savarkar and his friends set a large bonfire of foreign goods and clothes. Vijayadashami ( Nepali:विजया दशमी Kannada: ವಿಜಯದಶಮಿ Telugu: విజయదశమి Hindi: विजयदशमी See also Campfire. bonfire is a large controlled outdoor Fire. Re-organising his friends and students into a political outfit called Abhinav Bharat,^[1] Savarkar committed himself to fighting for India's independence, envisioning a republic united by a common language. A republic is a State or Country that is not led by a hereditary Monarch, but in which the people (or at least a part of its people have impact on its

Savarkar was expelled from college for his activities, yet permitted to take examinations to achieve his Bachelor of Arts degree. With the help of nationalist activist Shyam Krishnavarma, Savarkar embarked to study law in England on a scholarship. Shyamji Krishna Varma (Shyamji Krishna Nakhua (1857 - 1930 was an Indian scholar lawyer nationalist and a journalist who founded the Indian Home Rule Society, India ^[1][2] In the same year, India's main political organisation, the Indian National Congress split, with the followers of Tilak (collectively known as the Garam Dal (Hot Faction) rejecting the moderate Congress leadership, which advocated dialogue and reconciliation with the British Raj. Indian National Congress-I (also known as the Congress Party and abbreviated INC) is a major Political party in India. For usage see British rule in India British Raj ( rāj, lit "reign" in Hindustani) primarily refers to the British A firebrand nationalist of Marathi background, Lokamanya Balgangadhar Tilak advocated Swaraj (Self-Rule) for India and was imprisoned for his support of outright independence and revolutionary activities. This article refers to the concept of Swaraj as propagated by Gandhi. His zeal was heightened following Tilak's arrest, and Savarkar took on the Indian leader as his mentor, imbibing the latter's ideas for India's political freedom as well as the revival of the ancient heritage of Indian civilisation. ^[2] Although generally espousing atheism, Savarkar began studying Indian history, Hindu scripture and observing religious traditions. Atheism This article is about the history of South Asia prior to the Partition of British India in 1947 Literature regarded as central to the Hindu literary tradition was predominantly composed in Sanskrit, Indeed much of the morphology and linguistic

Activities at India House

Madan Lal Dhingra was a protege of Savarkar. Madan Lal Dhingra (1887 - 1909 was an Indian Indian freedom fighter,political activist a revolutionatry studying in England, where he killed Sir William Hutt

Savarkar enrolled at Gray's Inn, a law college in London and began living with fellow Indian students at the India House. Hindu politics refers to the political movements professing to draw inspiration from Hinduism. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP (भारतीय जनता पार्टी, Translation: Indian People's Party) founded in 1980 is a major Political Shiv Sena ( Devanāgarī: शिव सेना Śīv Senā, meaning Army of Shiva, referring to Shivaji Bhosle) is a Political party Akhil Bhāratīya Hindū Mahāsabhā (अखिल भारत हिन्दू महासभा All-Indian Hindu Assembly a Hindu nationalist organization was originally The Bharatiya Jana Sangh (abbreviated BJS and often known simply as the Jan Sangh existed from 1951 to 1980 whereupon it was succeeded by the Bharatiya Janata Party, one of Ram Rajya Parishad (Rām Rājya Pariṣad Sanskrit, Forum of Rama's Kingdom was a traditionalist Hindu party in India. Integral humanism is the Political philosophy practised by the Bharatiya Janata Party and the former Bharatiya Jana Sangh of India. Hindu nationalism is a nationalist Ideology that sees the modern State of the Republic of India as a Hindu Polity For Veer Savarkar's book see Hindutva (book. Hindutva (Devanagari हिन्दुत्व "Hinduness" a word coined by Vinayak Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak (बाळ गंगाधर टिळक ( July 23 1856 - August 1 1920) was an Indian nationalist Madan Mohan Malaviya (1861-1946 was an Indian politician notable for his role in the freedom struggle and his espousal of Hindu nationalism. Madhav Sadashiv Golwalkar (माधव सदाशिव गोळवलकर (February 19 1906 - June 5 1973 popularly known as Golwalkar Guruji, was the second Keshava Baliram Hedgewar (केशव बळीराम हेडगेवार ( April 1, 1889 – June 21 1940) was the founder of the Syama Prasad Mookerjee (or Shyama Prasad Mukherjee, শ্যামা প্রসাদ মুখার্জী ( thumb|right|200px|An Indian postage stamp featuring Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya (पण्डित दीनदयाल उपाध्याय ( September 25, 1916 - February 11, 1968) along Bal Keshav Thackeray (बाळ केशव ठाकरे (born January 23, 1926) popularly known as Balasaheb Thackeray is the founder and Bankim Chandra Chatterjee ( 27 June[[ 838]] - 8 April[[ 894]] (বঙ্কিম চন্দ্র চট্টোপাধ্যায় Bôngkim Koenraad Elst (born 7 August 1959) is a Belgian Writer and Orientalist (without institutional affiliation François Gautier, born 1959 in Paris, is a writer and journalist based in India Sita Ram Goel (सीता राम गोयल Sītā Rām Goyal) (1921 – 2003 writer and publisher influential in late twentieth century Hindu nationalist Kishori Saran Lal (1920 &ndash 2002 was an Indian Historian. He wrote many historical books mainly on medieval India Harsh Narain is an Indian author He has a PhD from Lucknow University and was a professor at Benares Hindu University, Aligarh Muslim University and Yvette Rosser is an American author and scholar Yvette Rosser was born on January 31 1952. Arun Shourie (born 1941) is a prominent Indian Journalist, Author, and Politician. Ram Swarup (राम स्‍वरूप born Ram Swarup Agarwal ( 1920 - December 26, 1998) was an independent Hindu thinker and prolific author The Honourable Society of Gray's Inn is one of the four Inns of Court around the Royal Courts London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. India House was an informal Indian nationalist organisation based in London between 1905 and 1910 Organised by expatriate social and political activist Pandit Shyamji, India House was a thriving centre for student political and intellectual activity, and with Savarkar's addition, it soon became a hot-bed of revolutionary thought and activities. Shyamji Krishna Varma (Shyamji Krishna Nakhua (1857 - 1930 was an Indian scholar lawyer nationalist and a journalist who founded the Indian Home Rule Society, India Founding the Free India Society, Savarkar sought to organise fellow Indian students for the goal of independence through revolution:

Savarkar envisioned a guerrilla war for independence along the lines of the famous armed Independence Movement of 1857 (incorrectly taught as Sepoy Mutiny by some old fashioned outdated schools). Studying the history of the revolt from English as well as Indian sources, Savarkar wrote a major book, The History of the War of Indian Independence in which he analyzed the revolt and assailed British rule in India as unjust and oppressive. Savarkar became one of the first writers to allude to the revolt as the "First War for Independence. "^[1] Karl Marx is also said to have written the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857 as the India's First War of Independence.

Banned from publication throughout the British Empire, Savarkar managed to smuggle his work to expatriate Indian revolutionary Madame Bhikaji Cama, who obtained its publication in the Netherlands, France and Germany. The British Empire was the largest empire in history and for over a century was the foremost global power. Bhikhaiji Rustom Cama ( Gujarati: ભીખાજી રૂસ્તમ કામા Hindi: भीखाजी रूस्तम कामा also Madam The Netherlands ( Dutch:, ˈnedərlɑnt is the European part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, which consists of the Netherlands the Netherlands This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. Widely smuggled and circulated, the book would attain great popularity and would influence rising young Indians and future revolutionaries, including Subhash Chandra Bose and Bhagat Singh. Subhas Chandra Bose (সুভাষ চন্দ্র বসু (born January 23, 1897; presumed to have died August 18, 1945 Bhagat Singh ( Punjabi: ਭਗਤ ਸਿੰਘ بھگت سنگھ pə̀gət̪ sɪ́ŋg ( September 27, 1907 &ndash March 23, 1931 ^[1] With a core group of fellow students, Savarkar began studying revolutionary methods and came into contact with a veteran of the Russian Revolution of 1905, who imparted the knowledge of bomb-making to Savarkar and his friends. See also Russian Revolution (1917 The 1905 Russian Revolution also known as the Failed Russian Revolution of 1905 was an empire-wide struggle of Savarkar would print and circulate a manual amongst his friends, on bomb-making and other methods of guerrilla warfare. Guerrilla warfare is the unconventional warfare and combat with which a small group of combatants use mobile tactics (ambushes raids etc

In 1909, Madan Lal Dhingra, a keen follower and friend of Savarkar, assassinated British MP Sir Curzon Wylie in a public meeting. Madan Lal Dhingra (1887 - 1909 was an Indian Indian freedom fighter,political activist a revolutionatry studying in England, where he killed Sir William Hutt A Member of Parliament, or MP, is a representative elected by the voters to a Parliament. Dhingra's action provoked controversy across Britain and India, evoking enthusiastic admiration as well as condemnation. Savarkar published an article in which he all but endorsed the murder and worked to organise support, both political and for Dhingra's legal defence. At a meeting of Indians called for a condemnation of Dhingra's deed, Savarkar protested the intention of condemnation and was drawn into a hot debate and angry scuffle with other attendants. A secretive and restricted trial and a sentence awarding the death penalty to Dhingra provoked an outcry and protest across the Indian student and political community. Strongly protesting the verdict, Savarkar struggled with British authorities in laying claim to Dhingra's remains following his execution. Savarkar hailed Dhingra as a hero and martyr, and began encouraging revolution with greater intensity. The term martyr ( Greek μάρτυς martys "witness" is most commonly used today to describe an individual who sacrifices their life (or personal freedom

Cellular jail

In India, Savarkar had organised an armed revolt against the Morley-Minto reforms of 1909 for which he was arrested and sentenced to transportation for life, moved to the Cellular Jail in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Indian Councils Act of 1909, commonly known as the Morley-Minto Reforms, began when John Morley, the Liberal Secretary of State for India, and the Conservative The Cellular Jail (also known as Kālā Pānī, literally 'Black water' a term for the deep sea and hence exile situated in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands The Andaman & Nicobar Islands is a Union territory of India. Informally the territory's name is often abbreviated to A & N Islands, or ANI The British police implicated Savarkar in the investigation for allegedly plotting the crime. Hoping to evade arrest, Savarkar moved to Madame Cama's home in Paris. Paris (ˈpærɨs in English; in French) is the Capital of France and the country's largest city He was nevertheless arrested by police on March 13, 1910. Events 1138 - Cardinal Gregorio Conti is elected Antipope as Victor IV, succeeding Anacletus II. Year 1910 ( MCMX) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year starting In the final days of freedom, Savarkar wrote letters to a close friend planning his escape. Knowing that he would most likely be shipped to India, Savarkar asked his friend to keep track of which ship and route he would be taken through. When the ship S. S. Morea reached the port of Marseilles on July 8, 1910, Savarkar escaped from his cell through a porthole and dived into the water, swimming a long distance to the shore in the hope that his friend would be there to receive him in a car. Events 939 - The Major Occultation or Ghaybat el-Kubra of Muhammad al-Mahdi 1099 - First Crusade: 15000 Year 1910 ( MCMX) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year starting ^[1] But his friend was late in arriving, and the alarm having been raised, Savarkar was re-arrested. Arriving in Mumbai (then Bombay), he was taken to the Yeravda Central Jail (which was a high security prison then reserved for the most illustrious of Indian Freedom Fighters, even Mahatma Gandhi was later housed there). Mumbai ( Marathi:,, IPA: formerly Bombay, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra and the financial Supermax is the name used to describe "control-unit" Prisons or units within prisons which represent the most secure levels of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi ( Gujarati: મોહનદાસ કરમચંદ ગાંધી moɦən̪d̪äs kəɾəmʧən̪d̪ gän̪d̪ʱi (2 October 1869 – 30 January Following a trial , Savarkar was sentenced to 50-years imprisonment and transported on July 4, 1911 to the Cellular Jail in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Events 836 - Pactum Sicardi, peace between the Principality of Benevento and the Duchy of Naples Year 1911 ( MCMXI) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year ^[1]

Infamously known as Kaalapani, his fellow captives included many political prisoners, and were forced to perform hard labour for many years. Reunited with his brother Ganesh, the Savarkars nevertheless struggled in the harsh environment. Forced to arise at 5 a. m. , tasks including cutting trees and chopping wood, and working at the oil mill under regimental strictness, with talking amidst prisoners strictly prohibited during mealtime. Prisoners were subject to frequent mistreatment and torture. Contact with the outside world and home was restricted to the writing and mailing of one letter a year. In these years, Savarkar withdrew within himself and performed his routine tasks mechanically. Obtaining permission to start a rudimentary jail library, Savarkar would also teach some fellow convicts to read and write.

Savarkar appealed for clemency in 1911 and again during Sir Reginald Craddock's visit in 1913, citing poor health in the oppressive conditions, both tactical moves to get out of prison and join the freedom movement actively. A pardon is the forgiveness of a crime and the penalty associated with it Sir Reginald Henry Craddock, GCIE, KCSI ( 11 March 1864 &ndash 10 February 1937) was a British government In 1920, even as the Indian National Congress and leaders such as Mahatma Gandhi, Vithalbhai Patel and Bal Gangadhar Tilak demanded his unconditional release,^[1] Savarkar controversially signed a statement endorsing the trial verdict and British law, and renouncing violence:

(from facsimile of Savarkar's letter to British authorities, Frontline, April 7, 1995. Pg. 94).

In his appeal and a willingness to sign a statement renouncing revolutionary activities, Savarkar sparked intense criticism and controversy, which has continued till today. Critics allege that he bargained for his freedom at the expense of his ideals, while supporters assert that Savarkar was merely seeking to escape one way or another, and resume his activities. Looking at his history, his plea seems more likely a tactical move again. ^[1] On May 2, 1921, the Savarkar brothers were moved to a jail in Ratnagiri, and later to the Yeravda Central Jail. Events 1194 - King Richard I of England gives Portsmouth its first Royal Charter. Year 1921 ( MCMXXI) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full 1921 calendar of the Gregorian calendar WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Ratnāgiri ( Marathi:रत्नागिरी is a port city on the Arabian Sea coast ^[1] He was finally released on January 6, 1924 under stringent restrictions – he was not to leave Ratnagiri District and was to refrain from political activities for the next five years. Events 1066 - Harold Godwinson is crowned King of England. 1205 - Philip of Swabia becomes King Year 1924 ( MCMXXIV) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Ratnagiri (रत्नागिरी(رتناگری is a District in Maharashtra[[ �ھاراشٹر]] India. However, police restrictions on his activities would not be dropped until the Congress came to power in 1937.

It is often alleged by Indian communists that Savarkar was employed by the British government in their 'Divide and rule' strategy to rule India.

Hindutva

See also: Hindutva

Savarkar in the 1920s-1930s. For Veer Savarkar's book see Hindutva (book. Hindutva (Devanagari हिन्दुत्व "Hinduness" a word coined by Vinayak

During his incarceration, Savarkar's views began turning increasingly towards Hindu cultural and political nationalism, and the next phase of his life remained dedicated to this cause. ^[2] In the brief period he spent at the Ratnagiri jail, Savarkar wrote his ideological treatise – Hindutva: Who is a Hindu?. Hindutva Who is a Hindu? is a 1923 ideological pamphlet by Vinayak Damodar Savarkar. Smuggled out of the prison, it was published by Savarkar's supporters under his alias "Mahratta. " In this work, Savarkar promotes a radical new vision of Hindu social and political consciousness. Savarkar began describing a "Hindu" as a patriotic inhabitant of Bharatavarsha, venturing beyond a religious identity. Bharata is a legendary king in Hindu mythology He was the first to conquer all of Greater India, uniting it into a single entity which was named after him as ^[2] While emphasising the need for patriotic and social unity of all Hindu communities, he described Hinduism, Jainism, Sikhism and Buddhism as one and same. Hinduism is a religious tradition that originated in the Indian subcontinent. Jainism, traditionally known as Jain Dharma / Shraman Dharma (जैन धर्म is an ancient religion of India. Sikhism ( IPA: or; ਸਿੱਖੀ sikkhī, IPA:) founded on the teachings of Nanak and nine successive gurus in fifteenth century Buddhism is a family of beliefs and practices He outlined his vision of a "Hindu Rashtra" (Hindu Nation) as "Akhand Bharat" (United India), purportedly stretching across the entire Indian subcontinent:

Scholars, historians and Indian politicians have been divided in their interpretation of Savarkar's ideas. A self-described atheist, Savarkar regards being Hindu as a cultural and political identity. While often stressing social and community unity between Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists and Jains, Savarkar's notions of loyalty to the fatherland are seen as an implicit criticism of Muslims and Christians, who regard Mecca, Medina and Jerusalem as their holiest places. A Muslim (مسلم pronounced Muslim, not Muzlim) is an adherent of the Religion A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth Mecca ˈmɛkə also spelled Makkah ˈmækə (in full Makkah Al-Mukarramah (Arabic mækːæ(t ælmʊkarˑamæ مكّة المكرمة, literally Honored Medina mɛˈdiːnə (المدينة المنورة ælmæˈdiːnæl muˈnɑwːɑrɑ or المدينة ælmæˈdiːnæ also transliterated into English as Jerusalem (יְרוּשָׁלַיִם, he-Latn Yerushaláyim; Arabic: ar القُدس, ar-Latn al-Quds) is the Savarkar openly assailed what he saw as Muslim political separatism, arguing that the loyalty of many Muslims was conflicted. After his release, Savarkar founded the Ratnagiri Hindu Sabha on January 23, 1924, aiming to work for the social and cultural preservation of Hindu heritage and civilisation. The Ratnagiri Hindu Sabha was an organization founded by Indian revolutionary Vinayak Damodar Savarkar in 1924 Events 393 - Roman Emperor Theodosius I proclaims his nine year old son Honorius co-emperor Year 1924 ( MCMXXIV) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Becoming a frequent and forceful orator, Sarvakar agitated for the use of Hindi as a common national language and against caste discrimination and untouchability. Hindi ( Devanāgarī: hi [[wiktहिन्दी हिन्दी]] or hi [[wiktहिंदी हिंदी]] IAST:, IPA:) is Caste (Sanskrit Gyati ज्ञाति, Hindi Biradari बिरादरी samaj समाज jati जाति etc, Urdu Zat ज़ात) is an Endogamous group Focusing his energies on writing, Savarkar authored the Hindu Padpadashashi^[1] – a book documenting and extolling the Maratha empire – and My Transportation for Life – an account of his early revolutionary days, arrest, trial and incarcertaion. The Maratha Empire ( Marathi: मराठा साम्राज्य Marāṭhā Sāmrājya; also transliterated Mahratta He also wrote and published a collection of poems, plays and novels.

Leader of the Hindu Mahasabha

A group photo of people accused in the Mahatma Gandhi's murder case. Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi ( Gujarati: મોહનદાસ કરમચંદ ગાંધી moɦən̪d̪äs kəɾəmʧən̪d̪ gän̪d̪ʱi (2 October 1869 – 30 January Standing: Shankar Kistaiya, Gopal Godse, Madanlal Pahwa, Digambar Badge (Approver). Shankar Kistaiya was an accused in the Mahatama's Gandhi's assassination case Gopal Vinayak Godse (गोपाळ विनायक गोडसे (c Madanlal Pahwa (ਮਦਨ ਲਾਲ ਪਾਹਵਾ मदन लाल पाहवा came to India in 1947 as a refugee after the partition of India Digambar Badge was an Indian Hindu political activist A member of the Hindu Mahasabha, he was a member of the group that plotted to assassinate Indian Sitting: Narayan Apte, Vinayak D. Narayan Dattatraya Apte was born in 1911 In 1932 he graduated from Bombay University with a Bachelor of Science Savarkar, Nathuram Godse, Vishnu Karkare

Although disavowing revolution and politics, Savarkar grew disenchanted with the Congress's emphasis of non-violence and criticised Gandhi for suspending Non Co-operation Movement following the killing of 22 policemen in Chauri Chaura in 1922. Nathuram Vinayak Godse (नथूराम विनायक गोडसे (May 19 1910 – November 15 1949 was the Vishnu Ramakrishna Karkare (C 1910 - 6 April 1974), a Hindu Mahasabha activist was sentenced to Life imprisonment for his role in an attempt Nonviolence is a philosophy and strategy for social change that rejects the use of physical Violence. Chauri Chaura is a town near Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, India. He soon joined the Hindu Mahasabha, a political party founded in 1911 and avowed to Hindu political rights and empowerment. Akhil Bhāratīya Hindū Mahāsabhā (अखिल भारत हिन्दू महासभा All-Indian Hindu Assembly a Hindu nationalist organization was originally The party was disengaged from the Indian independence movement, allowing Savarkar to work without British interference. As his travel restrictions weakened, Savarkar began travelling extensively, delivering speeches exhorting Hindu political unity and criticising the Congress and Muslim politicians. Savarkar and the Mahasabha did not endorse the Salt Satyagraha launched by the Congress in 1930, and neither Savarkar nor any of his supporters participated in civil disobedience. The Salt Satyagraha was a campaign of non-violent protest against the British salt tax in colonial India which began with the Salt March to Dandi on March 12 1930 Savarkar focused on expanding the party's membership, revamping its structure and delivering its message.

In the wake of the rising popularity of the Muslim League led by Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Savarkar and his party began gaining traction in the national political environment. The All India Muslim League ( Urdu: آل انڈیا مسلم لیگ Bengali:?????? ??? founded at Dhaka in 1906 was a political party in British Muhammad Ali Jinnah Urdu: (December 25 1876 – September 11 1948 was a Pakistani politician and leader of the All India Muslim League who founded Pakistan Savarkar moved to Mumbai and was elected president of the Hindu Mahasabha in 1937, and would serve until 1943. The Congress swept the polls in 1937 but conflicts between the Congress and Jinnah would exacerbate Hindu-Muslim political divisions. Jinnah derided Congress rule as a "Hindu Raj," and hailed December 22, 1939 as a "Day of Deliverance" for Muslims when the Congress resigned en masse in protest of India's arbitrary inclusion into World War II. Events 1790 - The Turkish fortress of Izmail is stormed and captured by Suvorov and his Russian armies Year 1939 ( MCMXXXIX) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. During the Indian Independence movement, Muslim League President Muhammad Ali Jinnah declared 1939-12-22 a " Day of Deliverance " World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including Savarkar's message of Hindu unity and empowerment gained increasing popularity amidst the worsening communal climate. Even as the League adopted the Lahore Resolution in 1940, calling for a separate Muslim state based on the Two-Nation Theory, Savarkar publicly stated that he did not disagree with Jinnah's contention that Hindus and Muslims were a separate nation. The Lahore Resolution ( Qarardad-e-Lahore قرارداد لاھور commonly known as the Pakistan Resolution (قرارداد پاکستان Qarardad-e-Pakistan The Two-Nation Theory was the basis for the Partition of India in 1947 He was firmly opposed, however to the proposed partition of Indian territory, citing the existence of a Muslim homeland in the Middle East. The Middle East is a Subcontinent with no clear boundaries often used as a synonym to Near East, in opposition to Far East.

However, Savarkar and the Mahasabha joined several political parties including the League and the Communist Party of India in endorsing the war effort. The Communist Party of India (CPI is a Political party in India. ^[1] Savarkar publicly encouraged Hindus to enlist in the military, which his supporters described as an effort for Hindus to obtain military training and experience potentially useful in a future confrontation with the British. ^[1] When the Congress launched the Quit India rebellion in 1942, Savarkar criticised the rebellion and asked Hindus to stay active in the war effort and not disobey the government. The Quit India Movement (Bharat Chhodo Andolan or the August Movement) was a Civil disobedience movement launched in India in August 1942 in ^[1] Under his leadership, the Mahasabha won several seats in the central and provincial legislatures, but its overall popularity and influence remained small. Towards the end of the war, Savarkar and the Mahasabha became increasingly confrontational with the League and Muslim politicians. Hindu Mahasabha activists protested Gandhi's initiative to hold talks with Jinnah in 1944, which Savarkar denounced as "appeasement. " He assailed the British proposals for transfer of power, attacking both the Congress and the British for making concessions to Muslim separatists. The Mahasabha's popularity was affected when the young and rising politician Syama Prasad Mookerjee left the party, believing it to be too radical and out-of-touch with most Hindus. Syama Prasad Mookerjee (or Shyama Prasad Mukherjee, শ্যামা প্রসাদ মুখার্জী ( thumb|right|200px|An Indian postage stamp featuring

Works

Veer Savarkar wrote more than 10,000 pages in the Marathi language. His literary works in Marathi include "Kamala", "Mazi Janmathep" (My Life Sentence), and most famously "1857 - The First war of Independence", about what the British referred to as the Sepoy Mutiny. Marathi (mr मराठी Marāṭhī) is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by the Marathi people of what is considered western India. Savarkar popularised the term 'First War of Independence'. Another noted book was "Kala Pani" (similar to Life Sentence, but on the island prison on the Andamans), which reflected the treatment of Indian freedom fighters by the British. In order to counter the then accepted view that India's history was a saga of continuous defeat, he wrote an inspirational historical work, "Saha Soneri Pane" (Six Golden Pages), recounting some of the Golden periods of Indian history. At the same time, religious divisions in India were beginning to fissure. He described what he saw as the atrocities of British and Muslims on Hindu residents in Kerala, in the book, "Mopalyanche Band" (Muslims' Strike) and also "Gandhi Gondhal" (Gandhi's Confusion), a political critique of Gandhi's politics. Savarkar, by now, had become a committed and persuasive critic of the Gandhian vision of India's future. He was great poet & writer. he wrote more than 10,000 pages in 'Marathi' & morethan 1,500 pages in 'English' languages.

He is also the author of poems like "Sagara pran talmalala", and "Jayostute" (written in praise of freedom), one of the most moving, inspiring and patriotic works in Marathi literature. When in the Cellular jail, Savarkar was denied pen and paper. He composed and wrote his poems on the prison walls with thorns and pebbles, memorised more than ten thousand lines of his poetry for years till other prisoners returning home brought them to India. Savarkar is credited with several popular neologisms in Hindi, like Digdarshak(leader, one who points in the right direction), Shatkar, Saptahik (Weekly) and Sansad (Parliament). Hindi ( Devanāgarī: hi [[wiktहिन्दी हिन्दी]] or hi [[wiktहिंदी हिंदी]] IAST:, IPA:) is

Partition and Gandhi's murder

At the Gandhi murder trial; Savarkar seated in the back.

Savarkar had become one of the fiercest critics of Mahatma Gandhi, and attacked him and the Congress leadership for acquiescing to the partition of India. The Partition of India was the partition of the British Indian Empire which led to the creation on August 14, 1947 and August 15, During the intense communal violence, Hindu Mahasabha activists were allegedly responsible for carrying out attacks on Muslim civilians. Savarkar blamed Gandhi for weakening Hindu society in face of Muslim separatism, and for agreeing to divide the Hindu homeland. The anger of some Hindu refugees from Pakistan provoked fears of assassination attempts on Gandhi's life. Gandhi's fast-unto-death in January 1948, demanding immediate communal peace and the payment of outstanding shares of the treasury to Pakistan in spite of the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947 increased the consternation and anger of many Hindu Mahasabha activists, including Savarkar. The Indo-Pakistani War of 1947, sometimes known as the First Kashmir War, was fought between India and Pakistan over the region of Kashmir from

Following the murder of Mahatma Gandhi on January 30, 1948, police arrested the assassin Nathuram Godse and rounded up his companions. Events 1648 - Eighty Years' War: The Treaty of Münster is signed ending the conflict between the Netherlands and Spain Year 1948 ( MCMXLVIII) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display the 1948 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Nathuram Vinayak Godse (नथूराम विनायक गोडसे (May 19 1910 – November 15 1949 was the Police investigation revealed that Godse and his chief conspirator Narayan Apte had been a close political confidantes of Savarkar in the Hindu Mahasabha. Narayan Dattatraya Apte was born in 1911 In 1932 he graduated from Bombay University with a Bachelor of Science Despite having publicly denounced Gandhi's murder, Savarkar was arrested on suspicion of having inspired and planned Gandhi's murder, and accordingly indicted. Witnesses during the trial testified that Savarkar had blessed Nathuram Godse before he shot Gandhi, with the words "Yashasvi howun yaa" (Marathi: Come back with success). Marathi (mr मराठी Marāṭhī) is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by the Marathi people of what is considered western India. Even before the trial, However, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel ^[3] had, in a letter to Jawaharlal Nehru, clearly stated his doubts over allegations that Savarkar had masterminded the murder. Vallabhbhai Patel (વલ્લભભાઈ પટેલ IPA:) (31 October 1875 – 15 December 1950 was a political and social leader of India who played Jawaharlal Nehru (जवाहरलाल नेहरू ʤəʋäɦəɾläl nɛɦɾu (14 November 1889 27 May 1964 was a major political leader of the Congress Party In the court, approvers had testified to the intimate relationship between Savarkar and the Godse brothers, but there was no corroborative evidence to nail down Savarkar's assertion that he had had merely formal relationships with them. Godse claimed full responsibility for planning and carrying out the attack, in absence of an independent corroboration of the prosecution witness Digambar Ramchandra Badge's evidence implicating Savarkar directly, the court exonerated him citing insufficient evidence. ^[1]

Later life

Despite his exoneration, Savarkar's role in the plot remains a source of intense controversy, but at the time the public held him answerable for instigating the murder. Public outrage over Gandhi's murder wrecked the fortunes of the Hindu Mahasabha, whose membership and activity dwindled into insignificance. Savarkar's home in Mumbai was stoned by angry mobs, and his political influence and activism sharply curtailed by widespread public anger. ^[1] His activities remained confined to occasional speeches and publishing his writings.

Savarkar maintained a standing of a legendary freedom fighter, especially in Maharashtra, regarded with respect and admiration for his revolutionary activities and work on behalf of Hindus. Freedom fighter is a term to describe those that engage in a struggle to achieve freedom for themselves or to free others in some matter He considered RSS and its associate organizations as too timid. But RSS had a stronger appeal to the votaries of Hindutva. RSS founder Hedgewar had the highest respect for Savarkar, and RSS continues to acknowledge Savarkar's efforts for the Hindu unity.

Savarkar exercised Voluntary Euthanasia and passed away on February 27, 1966 and was mourned by large crowds that attended his cremation. He had written an article 'Atma-hatya or Deh-tyaag', arguing that suicide in most cases is taking one's life, but renouncing life after the body was no longer capable of functioning properly was a different matter. He left behind a son (Vishwas Savarkar) and a daughter (Prabhat-tai Chiplunkar). His first son, Prabhakar, had died in infancy. His home, possessions and other personal relics have been preserved for public display.

Film

In the 1996 Malayalam movie Kaalaapaani directed by Priyadarshan noted Hindi actor Annu Kapoor played the role of Veer Savarkar.

In 2001, Ved Rahi made the bioepic film Veer Savarkar, which was released after many years in production. Ved Rahi is an Indian Film director who made the film Veer Savarkar (2001 a bio-epic on the life of Indian revolutionary Vinayak Damodar Savarkar is portrayed by Shailendra Gaur. Shailendra Gaur is an Indian Actor known for portraying Indian revolutionary Vinayak Damodar Savarkar in the bio-epic film Veer Savarkar (2001 [1], [2]

See also

Notes

This article contains Indic text. The Brahmic family is a family of syllabaries (writing systems used in South Asia, Southeast Asia, and parts of Central Asia and East Asia, Without rendering support, you may see question marks, boxes or other symbols instead of Indic characters; or irregular vowel positioning and a lack of conjuncts. Mojibake is the happenstance of incorrect unreadable characters (garbage characters shown when Computer software fails to render a text correctly according to its associated

References

External links

• A website dedicated to Veer Savarkar
• read "Hindutva" online - VD Savarkar
• Veer Savarkar: Ideologue of Hindutva
• An Article on Kamat's Potpourri
• Savarkar and Sangh : a muddled equation - An article on the relations of RSS and Savarkar
• Download Ebook:-News Letters from London - sent by Veer Savarkar
• History of Andaman Cellular Jail
• Who was Veer Savarkar?
• Godse accompanied Savarkar to Shimoga in 1944
• Gandhi and Savarkar
• Vinayak Damodar Savarkar shown at his residence
• - Rationalism of Savarakar (Hindi)(PDF)