Veer Savarkar Biography
Veer Savarkar was a great revolutionary in the history of India's struggle of independence. He was a great orator, scholar, prolific writer, historian, poet, philosopher and social worker. His actual name was Vinayak Damodar Savarkar. He was born on May 28, 1883, in the village of Bhagpur near Nasik. Ganesh (Babarao), his elder brother was a strong source of influence in his life. At a very early age he lost his father Damodarpant Savarkar and mother Radhabai.
Veer Savarkar established an organization by the name of 'Mitra Mela' which influenced the members to fight for "absolute political independence" of India. The Mitra Mela members served the victims of plague in Nasik. He later called the "Mitra Mela" as "Abhinav Bharat" and declared "India must be independent".
The British Government withdrew Veer Savarkar's graduation degree for his involvement in the Indian freedom movement . In June 1906 he went to London to become Barrister. He wrote a book "The Indian War of Independence 1857" on India's struggle of independence, which was banned by Britishers. When he was in London, he encouraged the Indian students in England against the British colonial masters. He supported the use of arms in India's struggle of independence.
He was arrested in London on 13 March 1910 sent to India for trial. However when the ship carrying him reached Marseilles in France, Savarkar escaped but was arrested by the French Police. On 24 December 1910, he was sentenced to jail in the Andamans. With his efforts a library was established in the jail. He even tried to impart education to the illiterate convicts in the jail. By the demand of great leaders like Vithalbhai Patel, Tilak and Gandhi a Savarkar was released and brought back to India on May 2, 1921.
Veer Savarkar was shifted to Ratnagiri jail, and then to the Yeravada jail. The book 'Hindutva' was written in the Ratnagiri jail. He was released from jail on January 6, 1924 and he later founded the Ratnagiri Hindu Sabha to preserve ancient Indian culture and worked in the direction of social welfare. Later he joined Swaraj Party, formed by Tilak and founded the Hindu Mahasabha, a separate political party and was elected its President. The party opposed the formation of Pakistan. The assassin of Gandhiji - Nathuram Godse was a member of the Hindu Mahasabha. Veer Savarkar was charged by the Government of India in the Mahatma Gandhi assassination case but was acquitted by the Supreme Court of India. At the age of 83 on February 26, 1966 he passed away.
| Full Name | Vinayak Damodar Savarkar |
| Nickname | Veer Savarkar |
| Born | May 28, 1883, Bhagur, Nashik (Maharashtra) |
| Died | February 26, 1966 (Mumbai) |
| Cause of death | Sallekhana Prayopavesa (death by fasting) |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Father | Damodar Savarkar |
| Mother | Yashoda Savarkar |
| Wife | Yamunabai |
| Brothers | Ganesh and Narayan |
| Sister | Mainabai |
| Known for | Contribution to Indian Independence movement |
| Political Party | Hindu Masabha |
| Religious Views | Atheist |
| Education | He completed his Bachelor of Arts from Fergusson College, Pune, Maharashtra. He was a Barrister at The Honourable Society of Gray's Inn, London. |
| Prison Journey | Savarkar was sentenced for 50 years by the British. He was shifted to the Cellular Jail, Andaman and Nicobar Islands. |
| Leader of the Hindu Mahasabha | In 1937 Savarkar was made the president of the Hindu Mahasabha. In midst of the communal atmosphere, the spread of Savarkar's message regarding Hindu unity accelerated. |
| Slogan | He popularised the slogan 'Hinduize all Politics and Militarize Hindudom'. |
| Arrest and acquittal in Gandhi's assassination | Savarkar was arrested on February 5, 1948 on the charge of murder, conspiracy to murder and abetment to murder of Mahatma Gandhi. He was detained in the Arthur Road Prison, Mumbai. However, after an intense trial he was acquitted. |
| Later life | The enraged mob targetted Savarkar's home in Mumbai after the assassination of Gandhi. The Congress government arrested Savarkar for delivering "militant Hindu nationalist speeches". However, he was allowed to move out of the confinement on the condition that he would quit politics. |
| Film | Annu Kapoor enacted Veer Savarkar in Kaala Pani, a Malayali movie directed by Priyadarshan in the 1996. Veer Savarkar, a biopic by Sudhir Phadke and Ved Rahi. Shailendra Gaur played the role of Savarkar. |
| Books by Savarkar | 1857 Che Svatantrya Samar Hindupadpaatshahi Hindutva Jatyochhedak Nibandha Moplyanche Banda Maazi Janmathep Kale Pani Shatruchya Shibirat Londonchi batamipatre Andamanchya Andheritun Vidnyan nishtha Nibandha Joseph Mazzini Hindurashtra Darshan Hindutvache Panchapran Kamala Savarkaranchya Kavita Sanyasta Khadg |
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