Cover

Holi memorial (interior ), Pune. Holi memorial (exterior), Pune Poetry on prison wall

SWATANTRYAVEER VINAYAK DAMODAR SAVARKAR

Savarkar Cell,
Cellular jail. ASHTVINAYAKDARSHAN

Daredevil attempt to escape. Marseille harbour, France

Cellular Jail, Port Blair, Andman

O, Dear Indian, behold these sacred places with humility, for they are witness to deeds of great valour,
sacrifice and noble actions of Swatantryaveer Vinayak Damodar Savarkar.
ao qhX ~m§Ydm Wm§~ `m ñWir {dZ_« hmodmoZr& Ë`m '{dZm`H$m'Mo VoO àH$Q>bo `m{M ñWbm§_Yw{Z&&
Author: Prof. Shashikant Damodar Gokhale, M.E.(Electrical)
 Cover 2

Savarkar Sadan, Dadar, Mumbai India House, High Gate, London

A TRIBUTE TO SAVARKAR- FAMILY

Not only the three brothers, but their wives too, have
a right to a salute for their unprecedented sacrifice and
unforgettable contribution to the freedom struggle.
Yesuvahini, wife of Babarao, had to shoulder, not
only the mother-like responsibility of Vinayak
and Narayan, but also was a source of inspiration
for all. Unfortunately, she died (April 1919) before
Babarao’s
return
Yesuvahini, Babarao’s Wife f r o m
Andman
Jail. In
the photo ( 1930s) from left
to right : Narayanrao, his wife
Shantabai with their child.
Babarao Savarkar. Vinayak’s
wife Yamunabai with a child.
Vinayak Damodar Savarkar.

DEDICATED TO
My father Late Dr. Damodar Sadashiv Gokhale, who
served for five years, the soldiers on the battlefields
abroad, during Second World war, as a Medical Officer
in Indian Army and thereafter devoted himself to the
service of the patients in India.
AND
My mother Late Kamala Damodar Gokhale, who
stubbornly faced the extremely difficult situation at
home in India, with determination and courage, while looking after three children.
 ASHTVINAYAKDARSHAN
In Maharashtra ashtavinayak darshan is a pilgrimage in which devotees
worship Ganesh (also called Vinayak) idols located at 8 different places.
This Ashtavinayak darshan however is really a pilgrimage which
begins at Bhagur near Nashik where Savarkar was born and ends in
Savarkar Sadan in Mumbai where he breathed his last.
This is a "Darshan" to be had with humility and gratitude. Savarkar
was one of the greatest patriots of India. This Ashtvinayak Darshan
is a humble attempt at acquainting youngsters with his life, and his
contribution in various walks of life. He is popularly well-known as
“SWATANTRYAVEER” (“A champion of Independence”) or “VEER” (“A
brave man”).
VINAYAK FIRST: BHAGUR & NASHIK : SAVARKAR JANMASTHAN
AT BHAGUR AND ABHINAV BHARAT MANDIR AT NASHIK

S
avarkar was born on 28th May
1883 at 10 pm at night and
brought up in his ancestral home
in Bhagur, a village near Nashik,
Maharashtra. He completed his
primary education in Bhagur. He
lost his mother RADHABAI at the
age of 9 and father DAMODAR
at the age of 15. Then Vinayak
and younger brother Narayan
moved to Nashik and lived with
their elder brother Ganesh alias Babarao and sister in law Yesuvahini.
Vinayak was greatly moved by the hangings of three Chapekar brothers
for the act of killing tyrant police officer Rand. He vowed to give an
armed fight, to end the British rule and get independence. He took an
oath in front of the idol of Ashtbhuja Devi in his home at the age of 15.
Oath reflects the determination to fight till the last breath. Chhatrapati
Shivaji Maharaj was his source of inspiration. He founded a secret
organisation ABHINAV BHARAT in 1904 with the help of his friends.
The members of this organisation were expected to be ready to fight
an armed struggle and sacrifice their lives if needed. He was endowed
with literary genius right from the childhood. His "qghJS>mMm nmodmS>m" and
Savarkar’s close friend Swatantryashahir Kavi Govind Darekar’s “aUmdrU

1 ASHTVINAYAKDARSHAN
 ñdmV§Í` H$moUm {_imbo? (Has anyone got freedom
without armed fight?)” were very inspiring and
got immense popularity. “Lokmanya Tilak invited
his team to perform it on Sinhgad fort itself.
After independence people were made to
believe that it is only the nonviolence movement
that has expelled the British from India, neglecting
completely all the revolutionaries right from
Mangal Pande to Subhash Chandra Bose. After
getting Independence, Savarkar therefore, inspired
A revolutionary student people to build a MEMORIAL in Gorhe Wada, in
Tilbhandeshwar galli, Nashik in the honour of all
those revolutionaries who contributed to the freedom struggle right from
1857 to 1947. The name of the memorial is Abhinav Bharat Mandir.
Bhagur and Nashik saw this Sun, rising on its horizon.

VINAYAK SECOND : FERGUSSON COLLEGE HOSTEL ROOM

NUMBER 17 AND HOLI MEMORIAL ON KARVE ROAD, PUNE.

S avarkar completed his secondary

education in Nashik and got admitted
to Fergusson college, Pune for his higher
education. He stayed in the college hostel
number 1, room number 17 from 1902 to
1905. Savarkar's oratory, poetic abilities and
leadership qualities got fine-tuned in Pune.
He came in close contact with Lokmanya
Tilak and Shivrampant Paranjape. Here
he composed his famous Aarti on Shivaji
Maharaj, “O` Xod O` Xod O` O` {edam`m”, a
powada “ho qhXþ-Z¥qghm à^mo {edmOramOm” and a
unique Stotra in praise of goddess of liberty
(ñdV§ÌVm Xodr) “O`moñVwVo lr_hÝ_§Jbo {edmñnXo
ew^Xo”. Abhinav Bharat Mandir,
Nashik
On Dasara of 1905, Savarkar organised a
Holi of foreign clothes as a part of Swadeshi
movement. Lokmanya Tilak too was present on the occasion. Savarkar's
speech on the occasion was so inspiring that the movement spread
all over India. Today a memorial stands on the bank of Mutha river,
on Karve road, Pune, to commemorate that famous Holi. The college
2 ASHTVINAYAKDARSHAN
however expelled him from the hostel and fined him. He completed
his graduation in 1906. He, thereafter, passed LLB through Bombay
university. Pune saw Savarkar like a SUN rising higher and higher.

VINAYAK THIRD : INDIA HOUSE, HIGHGATE, LONDON

S hyamji Krishna Varma, a patriot-businessman in London had

declared scholarships for Indian students.
These scholarships were in the name of Shivaji
Maharaj, Rana Pratap etc. Savarkar's name was
recommended by Lokmanya Tilak for Shivaji
scholarship. This scholarship enabled him to
reach London to study for the barrister degree.
Here he stayed in a hostel run by Shyamji
Krishna Varma for the Indian students. Hostel
was named "India house." He stayed there
from 1906 to 1910. Owing to his activities in Pt. Shyamji Krushna Verma
India, he was under watch of British spies ever
since he left for London. London saw his revolutionary activities at their
best.
Savarkar celebrated Shivaji janmotsav and guru Govindji utsav, the
first of its kind in England. Savarkar was a great admirer of the Sikh
community and wanted them to rejoin the freedom struggle. He
therefore wrote a book named History of Sikhs and sent it to his elder
brother in India for publication. The book never reached the destination.
It is suspected that the British government confiscated it from the post
office itself.
Savarkar was very much impressed by the philosophy of freedom
struggle of Italian revolutionary Joseph Mazinee. He therefore wrote
a Biography of Joseph Mazzini to serve it as an inspiration for the
revolutionaries. The book got published but his foreword for the book
was so fiery and inspiring that the British government immediately
banned it.
Britain called the 1857 rising as a sepoy mutiny. So had the Indian
historians. On 10th May 1908, in this very India house, in the capital of
British empire, Savarkar dared to declare the uprising of 1857 as "the first
war of independence" in a ceremony that paid tributes to the martyrs
of 1857. A thing that never had been done before. After a painstaking
research in British Library in London, he wrote manuscript of his most
famous book "gÎmmdZMo ñdmV§Í`g_a" (war of independence of 1857) in
3 ASHTVINAYAKDARSHAN
 Marathi. The British government came to know
about some contents of this book through its spies.
It was really a book which was written to inspire
the Indians to rise against the British government.
The government imposed a ban on it before it's
publication.
Efforts to get it printed in India failed miserably.
The manuscript was sent back to Savarkar in
Madam Kama
London. Then it was translated into English and
with great efforts got printed in Holland with great
secrecy. Thereafter this book was translated in various Indian languages
including Marathi and secretly circulated all over India. The book was
later published by many revolutionaries and therefore got the status of
Gita for them. The book remained legally banned till 1947. The detailed
history of this book is quite thrilling.
Savarkar assigned one of his colleagues a task of acquiring the art
of making bombs. They did acquire a bomb manual from a Russian
revolutionary. The bomb manual was smuggled into Bengal. The
revolutionaries who were opposing the partition of Bengal, used it and
bombs started exploding in Bengal.
Madam Kama unfurled the first Tiranga flag of free India in
international socialist Congress held at Stuttgart in Germany in 1907.
The British government got furious. The idea and the design of the flag
was Savarkar's creation.
There were more than 500 princely states controlled by the British
rule in India. To show their loyalty to the British government most of
them ruthlessly crushed the revolutionaries. In 1909 Savarkar wrote a
detailed warning letter titled "Choose, Indian princess!", appealing
them to help the revolutionaries. He explained in detail the form of the
government in India if the revolution succeeds. This long letter ends with
the words, "O, Indian princess! We ask you to think solemnly and deeply
upon these words and choose your path. Choose what you will, and you
will reap what you sow. Choose whether you should be the first of the
nation's fathers or the last of the Nation's tyrants. Vande mataram!"
On 24th October 1909, Savarkar and Gandhi had a long discussion
on the method of acquiring independence in this very India House. They
had difference of opinion at that time, too!
Large number of Indian students studying in Britain became members
of "Abhinav Bharat" due to Savarkar's efforts. Madanlal Dhingra was
one of them. Savarkar aroused his deep-rooted love for Mother India
4 ASHTVINAYAKDARSHAN
 and transformed him into a great Revolutionary.
On 1st July 1909, Dhingra killed Curzon Wiley,
in London. Curzon Wiley was a British officer of
the highest rank, looking after the Indian matters.
The plot was masterminded by Savarkar. A public
meeting was convened to condemn Dhingra. It
was Savarkar who openly opposed the resolution
Madanlal Dhingra condemning Dhingra. The angry British attacked
Savarkar. The police and the angry British people
forced the closure of the India house. Savarkar had to leave this house
from where the Indian revolutionaries under the leadership of Savarkar
carried out courageous activities including learning the making of bombs
with the help of newly acquired bomb making manual.
The small blue circle in the photo of India House is a commemorative
plate placed by Greater London Council. It says, ''Vinayak Damodar
Savarkar, 1883-1966. Indian patriot and philosopher lived here.''
In London, Savarkar was like a blazing sun. India House saw this
blazing SUN at its peak.

VINAYAK FOURTH : BRIGHTON SEASHORE, LONDON

T he closure of India House drove Savarkar to exile to avoid police

and public. He had taken care to place a written declaration in
Dhingra’s pocket when Dhingra proceeded to kill Curzon Wiley. It was
drafted by Savarkar, to let the court and the public know the purpose
behind Dhingra’s act. However, when Dhingra was arrested, the police
confiscated it without recording it in evidence. Savarkar met Dhingra
in prison. Publication of that statement was his last desire. Savarkar
promised to fulfil it at any cost.
Savarkar met Niranjan Pal at the seashore of Brighton to discuss the
plan of getting Dhingra’s statement published in newspapers. Thereafter,
Dhingra’s statement was sent to several newspapers. Savarkar’s friend
David Garnet gave it to his Irish friend Robert Lind, a night shift
sub- editor of the famous 'Daily News'. He alone dared to include
it at the eleventh hour in the edition of 18th August 1909. Just a day
earlier, Dhingra embraced the martyrdom gracefully on 17th August
1909. Due to publication of Dhingra’s statement, the world knew that
Madanlal Dhingra was not an ordinary killer but a great revolutionary
patriot. The British Government, which claimed to be ruling its empire

5 ASHTVINAYAKDARSHAN
with highest degree of justice, came under heavy criticism at home and
abroad.
At home in India, Savarkar’s elder brother Ganesh (Babarao) was
accused of declaring war against British Raj and sent to Andman on
“H$mio nmUr” to undergo lifetime imprisonment in June 1909. Younger
brother Narayan faced the hard imprisonment in India. All the property
was confiscated. Savarkar’s family members became homeless and faced
great hardships.
Anant Kanhere, a member of Abhinav Bharat, shot dead Mr. Jackson,
the collector of Nashik on 21st December 1909. The pistols used, were
secretly sent by Savarkar. The British Government unearthed the plot
and ruthlessly crushed all those involved in it. On 19th April 1910,
Anant Kanhere, Krishna Karve and Vinayak Deshpande were brutally
hanged for their direct participation in the killing. British government
came to know about Savarkar’s involvement in this act. Savarkar-family
was facing the anger of the government. He was likely to be arrested
anytime.
His brothers and colleagues were convicted and given sentences.
Elder brother’s wife, Yesuvahini and Savarkar’s wife Yamuna, were driven
out of their home. His father-in-law, too, lost his job. Savarkar expected
arrest at any moment. The possibility of his going to gallows in Briton,
just like Dhingra, lurked on his mind. Possibility of not being able to
see the motherland again, made him home sick. In this state of mind,
while on the sea shore of Brighton, with Niranjan Pal on his side, the
sea roaring in front of him, probably triggered his poetic genius, and
he composed one of the greatest poems in the Marathi language “Zo
_Ogr Zo naV _mV¥^_y rbm, gmJam àmU Vi_ibm [Oh, Ocean, Please, take
me back to my motherland ]” . The act of composing this great poem
occurred on the Brighton Seashore of London on 10th December 1909!
Niranjan Pal has described this incident in detail. Everyone must read
the poem and understand his deep-rooted love for the motherland. The
Brighton Seashore of England, which was witness to this daring plan of
publishing Dhingra’s statement and had heard Savarkar composing and
chanting one of the greatest poems in Marathi, is the Fourth Vinayak!

VINAYAK FIFTH : MARSEILLE HARBOUR, MARSEILLE, FRANCE

B riton decided to prosecute Savarkar in Nashik case instead of

Dhingra case, to influence the verdict in their favour. He was put on

6 ASHTVINAYAKDARSHAN
 board the ship S.S. Moria
on way to India under a
heavy guard. When the
boat was about to leave the
Marseille harbour, France
(8th July 1910) Savarkar
Vinayak Deshpande Anant Kanhere Krushna Karve managed to jump into the
sea through the porthole of
toilet. While he swam to
the harbour dock, he was fired upon and chased by the British police.
Despite all this, he managed to reach the harbour and climb the wall of
the harbour. He started running away from his chasers while searching
for his colleagues, who were expected to be there at that time. Finding
no one there, he approached a French policeman and urged him to take
him into custody.
However,the British police reached there, bribed the French policeman
and took him back to the ship. Savarkar’s colleagues did arrive at the scene
but as ill luck would have it, they were just a bit late. The daredevil attempt
to escape failed. However, Savarkar’s colleagues, Mr. Ayyar and Mrs Kama,
urged the French Government to seek custody of Savarkar since it was a
case of breach of sovereignty of France. The French people supported the
demand and the case was referred to International court at Hague. Since
Briton was the superpower in those days, they managed to get the verdict
in their favour. However, this historic jump attracted the attention of
the world towards the Indian-freedom-struggle. The spectacle
of this valour inspired thousands of Indian youth to enter the
freedom- struggle. That historic jump was a symbol of the indomitable
desire of humans for liberty. The Fifth Vinayak, Marseille harbour,
witnessed that daring attempt to freedom.

VINAYAK SIXTH : CELLULAR JAIL, PORT BLAIR, ANDAMAN

Y oung Savarkar was sentenced to 50 years life term. The jailor quipped,
“Don’t worry. The merciful British government will definitely release
you after 50 years!” Savarkar’s quick reply, effectively silencing him, was,
“Ah, but if at all it lasts till then! Moreover, what if even more merciful
death liberates me earlier?’’ What a strong mind and indomitable
optimism! And that too, at a time when his 50-year sentence had just
begun. And what a prophetic remark? The mighty British rule did end

7 ASHTVINAYAKDARSHAN
within 36 years thereafter.
Savarkar was subjected to all sorts of hardships and punishments.
His famous Marathi book ‘_mPr OÝ_R>no ’ (My life imprisonment) speaks
of the hardships and the sacrifice of all those revolutionary freedom
fighters, who were sent to the Andmans. It is a great surprise as to how
he maintained his will to fight despite all these hardships. His had
been a dream to become a _hmH$dr, since childhood. His literary genius
inspired him to fulfil it in prison! Getting pen and paper in that prison
was out of question. So, he decided to make the prison wall his paper
and thorns his pen! He started to write on the walls with a thorn and
learn it by heart lest it be erased by the authorities. The epic ‘Kamala,’
his contribution to Marathi poetry during his stay in Andman, is
unbelievable. It is again a great surprise as to how his literary genius rose
to such heights, despite hostile circumstances. Most of the revolutionaries
imprisoned there, hailed from Bengal and from Punjab. There were only
three from Maharashtra. They were Ganesh and Vinayak Savarkar and
one Mr. Joshi, all from Nashik. Savarkar fought for the rights of the
prisoners in Cellular Jail. The hindu convicts were converted to Islam
using several means. He learnt reading and writing Urdu language.
Studied the teachings of Islam minutely. Observed the methods adopted
for conversion. Savarkar raised voice against this conversion campaign
and stopped it completely. He convinced converted prisoners, that they
can return to Hinduism by a very simple ceremony possible within the
prison and brought them back to Hindu faith. He tried to remove the
deep-rooted wrong notions of losing one’s religion. In that limited space
of prison, he did many things that should be read in his book.
On special occasions from their viewpoint, British government used
to declare amnesty to convicts with good conduct in jail. The convicts
in the cellular jail, therefore used to apply for amnesty. Savarkar, too,
applied for it as a strategy. Some narrow-minded writers have used it
to tarnish his image, completely neglecting his great sacrifice and the
unique contribution to the struggle for freedom. Afterall Savarkar drew
his inspiration from Shivaji Maharaj, who used similar strategy while
fighting the enemy like Afjalkhan, Aadil Shah and Aurangzeb. In order
to get out of the jail, Savarkar used to urge the political prisoners in the
jail to accept any conditions imposed by the government. He used to
tell them that a lot of service to the freedom movement was possible
outside the jail despite those restrictions. In one of such applications to
the British government, he pleads on behalf of all the political prisoners

8 ASHTVINAYAKDARSHAN
in cellular jail. He gives several cases in the history of Briton, wherein
Briton has gained by pardoning the political prisoners. He mentions
the Briton’s fight with Boars, Cape, Canada and America. He therefore
urges the government to declare amnesty to all the political prisoners
in cellular jail. He further adds: If Savarkar is an obstacle in taking such
a step, he volunteers to be excluded. He will be still happy to see the
others getting freed. This shows his earnest desire to seek freedom for
as many political prisoners as possible, so that the struggle for freedom
gains strength. The British government was aware of his strategy and
therefore did not give any amnesty benefit to Savarkar brothers. After
a lot of pressure from Indian political leaders the government shifted
Savarkar brothers from Andman to prisons in India after eleven years.
He had to spend 4 more years in Indian prisons. Thereafter he was freed
from jail but detained in Ratnagiri, Maharashtra, with the condition of
not undertaking any political activity. Savarkar can be called a fully
eclipsed Sun inside Cellular jail. Cellular Jail is now a National Memorial.
Savarkar’s contribution to freedom struggle is recognized by naming Port
Blair Airport as Veer Savarkar International Airport. The garden in front
of the jail is also named after him. The prison cell, where he spent his
youth for eleven long years is named ‘Savarkar Cell’. He is duly honoured
along with the others in the ‘Light and Sound Show’, screened every
evening now! A statue of Savarkar and others is erected in the garden in
front of the jail. It is a sacred duty of every Indian to have a darshan of
this sixth Vinayak, cellular jail.

VINAYAK SEVENTH : PATIT PAVAN MANDIR, RATNAGIRI

A fter 11 years of imprisonment in the Cellular jail, Andman and 4

years in Indian Jails, Savarkar was released from prison but confined
in Ratnagiri, with certain restrictions, for the next 13 years. He was not
allowed to take part in politics. But this did not deter him. The subject
of Social reforms was very dear to his heart. He considered politics
and social work to be equally important. He had already practiced it in
Cellular jail. Once out of prison, it was possible for him to do it not only
in Ratnagiri but also all over India with his command on the ‘pen’. It
was a strategic decision taken by him to accept the conditions for the
sake of a greater cause. The social work he did and his contribution to
Marathi literature while he was at Ratnagiri is unique in many aspects.
In 1923, he wrote a book ‘HINDUTVA’ wherein he attempted to

9 ASHTVINAYAKDARSHAN
define the concept of ‘HINDU’. He defined a ‘Hindu’ as anyone whose
forefathers hail from the Indian region extending from the Sindhu river
on the West to the seas on the East ({nV¥^)y , and for whom this land is a
Holy Land (nwÊ`^y). This obviously excludes Muslims, Christians, Jews,
Parsees etc whose holy places are outside the region defined above; (but
does NOT exclude the Jains, the Buddhists, the Sikhs, the Shaivas, the
Vaishnavas, and such other groups). He was motivated to write this
book to bring Jains, Sikhs, Shaivas, Vaishnavas and all such Groups in
the Indian Region, [whose Y_©gñ§ WmnH$ (founders of dharm) are Indians],
to live under ONE ROOF to guard their socio-political interests. It must
be understood that Savarkar was not allowed to take part in politics
up to 1937. Gandhiji claimed to be the leader of Hindus as well as
Muslims. But most of the Muslims never accepted him as their leader.
They accepted Jinna to be their leader. Savarkar sincerely and rightly felt
that the interests of ‘Hindus’ will be jeopardized in Gandhiji’s politics of
Muslim-appeasement, unless Hindus unite. He was not really against
any religion as such. In his definition of ‘HINDURASHTRA’ every
citizen was to have equal status, irrespective of his religion. His concept
of Hindurashtra was fully secular. In an orthodox city like Ratnagiri, the
social transformation brought about by him was unparallel. He started
with the fight against ‘untouchability’. He saw to it that there will be
no caste wise segregation among the students in classrooms. He urged
the people to allow the untouchables inside the temples for worship, to
establish equality and took a lead in escorting them into the temples.
He encouraged and arranged caste less community meals [gh^moOZ]
wherein all dined together, with the so called ‘untouchables’. He ran a
hotel named ‘Akhil Hindu Hotel’ meaning ‘a hotel for all the Hindus’.
Mahatmaji was to visit Ratnagiri (March 1927). Savarkar invited him.
They had met previously 18 years before. Gandhiji praised Savarkar’s
social work in Ratnagiri. Savarkar inspired Sheth Bhagoji Kir to build
a temple called the ‘Patitpavan Mandir’, open to all Hindus [1931]. The
deity was to be installed by Kir himself. The Brahmins knew it and had
agreed earlier to perform puja as per Vedas. But Bhagoji Kir being from a
lower caste, they refused, at the eleventh hour, to perform puja as per the
Vedas. However, they were ready to perform it as per Puranas. Savarkar
insisted that it should be as per Vedas in order to establish principle of
equality. Savarkar gave them an ultimatum and declared, “If you corner
us now, we, the people of all the castes, will together lift the deity, carry
it to the temple chanting bhajans and install it in its shrine. It will be

10 ASHTVINAYAKDARSHAN
our puja.” One Mr. Modak Shastri then, came forward and the puja
was performed as per Vaidik rituals. Savarkar saw to it that there will be
absolutely no caste inequality in day to day functioning and the structure
of the Temple Trust. As a result, it became a temple for all Hindus in
the real sense, right from its inauguration. It is famous as a unique and
successful experiment in the history of social reforms.
All his thoughts and deeds had a very strong rational and scientific
outlook. He said,” Those with rational scientific outlook should
free the human psyche from all sorts of superstitions and blind faith
(‘A§Y…lÕm’), originating from all sorts of holy books across the religions.”
His articles on rationalism, scientific outlook and revolutionary social
reforms brought a lot of brickbats to him. In those days all European
nations had colonies in different parts of the world. In an article “XmoZ eãXm§V
XmoZ g§ñH¥$Vr” “(two words, two cultures”) he says,” Europeans strive to be
‘up to date” in every field of knowledge to solve the present age problems.
Whereas we search for solutions to present day problems in the 5000
years old ‘lw{Vñ_¥{VnwamU’. He urged, ” Respect all these Holy scriptures as a
part of history, but not as legal documents to solve present day problems.
Apply the rational scientific outlook to all that is preached in it. Only
that which will help this nation to become strong and prosperous, should
be accepted. We should strive to be UpToDate.” He urged Hindus to get
rid of seven shackles. Get completely rid of : (i) untouchability, (ii) ban
on learning of Vedas by lower castes, (iii) ban on practicing profession
of one’s own liking, (iv) ban on reversion into Hindu religion, (v) ban
on crossing the sea (vi) ban on sharing food along with lower castes,
(vii) ban on intercaste marriages. [gáe¥I § bm; ñne©~X§ r, doXmoº$~§Xr,ì`dgm`~§Xr,
ewpãY~§Xr, qgYw~X§ r, amoQ>r~§Xr, ~oQ>r~§Xr]. He wrote novels, dramas, essays, all
aimed at educating the society. He not only wrote history but created
it. ‘Sanyast Khadg’ was a drama which brought out the limitations
of extreme Ahinsa and its dangerous effects on the Nation. Savarkar
spearheaded the movement of purification of Marathi (^mfmewÕr) to
enrich it. Originally existing words in Marathi were being replaced by
words of foreign language. He felt the language purification essential
for national interest and self respect . He was in favour of creating new
Sanskrut based self explanatory words to replace the foreign language
words. Those objects or concepts for which Marathi language has no
words and it is difficult to create new ones, he had no objection to using
the words in foreign language as well. There were hundreds of English
words for which there were no Marathi equivalents. Today we have self-

11 ASHTVINAYAKDARSHAN
explanatory Marathi words for them in daily use. We use hundreds of
such words without knowing that it is Savarkar’s contribution to Marathi
language, e.g. _hmnm¡a for mayor, dmVm©ha for reporter, Üd{Z_wÐU for sound
recording and so on. Most of Savarkar’s literature is in Marathi. His
detailed biographies written by famous authors are available in almost all
Indian languages. The Ratnagiri and the Patit pavan Mandir are witness
to his social work, and therefore constitute Vinayak seven.

VINAYAK EIGHTH: SAVARKAR SADAN, SHIVAJI PARK,

DADAR, MUMBAI

O n 10th May 1937 Savarkar was unconditionally released from his

confinement in Ratnagiri and allowed to enter politics. Thereafter
he stayed in ‘Savarkarsadan’, a house located in Shivaji park, Dadar,
Mumbai, until his death. At that time Mahatma Gandhi led the Congress
party and claimed to be leader of all including Muslims. But Jinna,
who commanded the support of most of the Muslims, was demanding
partition to create a separate Muslim nation called PAKISTAN. In order
to get support of Muslims, Gandhiji continued to accept their unjust
demands. When Kemal Pasha of turkey, had separated Political power
from religion, Muslims started ‘Khilafat movement’ to restore Khalifa’s
power in Turkey. Gandhiji supported this totally religious movement
(which was in no way related to freedom struggle in India) thinking that
this move will bring Muslim support to the Congress. But this resulted in
increase in their demands. Savarkar told Muslims, “We are determined
to fight British for freedom; with you, if you join us; without you, if
you don’t; and fighting you, if you oppose. But acquire it, we will!” He
rightly felt that Gandhiji’s policy of Muslim-appeasement will jeopardise
the natural, just and legitimate rights of Hindus. He joined therefore,
Hindu Mahasabha and became its president. He toured all over India
to explain his concept of Government of free India. He was one of the
greatest orators of his time.
He was made the President of Marathi Sahitya Sammelan in 1938,
for his great contribution to Marathi Literature. In his Presidential
speech he urged the literary community to impress upon the people the
importance of developing a militarily strong nation; For such a nation
does provide congenial environment for men of literature. As usual he
was criticized. But he declared, “Even if unpalatable today, I shall utter
only that which will be ultimately beneficial for the people. That is my
motto.” [da_² OZ{hV_² Ü`o`_², Ho$dbm Z OZñVw{V…]
12 ASHTVINAYAKDARSHAN
 The II-world war broke up in 1939. Since Britain needed manpower,
they had no alternative than to recruit Indians on a large scale to join
the war, being fought outside India. Savarkar encouraged the youth to
enter armed forces to get trained in the modern warfare. Once trained,
it was in their hands to turn the guns towards the enemies of the
British or towards the British themselves. On 22 June 1940, Subhash
Chandra Bose, who had left the Congress party, met Savarkar in Savarkar
Sadan all of a sudden. Savarkar advised him to somehow escape from
India like Rashbihari Bose. Rash Bihari Bose, who anticipated entry of
Japan into the war, was trying to form a Sena of Indians in Japan and
needed a young leader for it. Savarkar advised Netaji to lead it and fight
the British as soon as Japan jumps into War. The history there after is
welknown. Subhashchandra Bose praised Savarkar for his foresight,
because the soldiers of his Azad Hind Sena were none other than the
Indian soldiers in the British army, caught by the Japanese as Prisoners
of War. Though Briton won the war in 1945, she had lost tremendous
amount of resources and manpower due to two world wars within 31
years. The freedom movement in India was very intense. Briton had no
strength to crush the freedom struggle in India by bringing in the British
forces here, as was done in 1857. Briton itself acknowledged that they
were leaving and transferring the power to India because Indian army was
no longer loyal to the British empire. This vindicated further the foresight
of Savarkar in encouraging the youth to enter the armed forces during
War. Jinna demanded partition of India to create Pakistan, a nation for
Muslims. Gandhiji offered Jinna the post of Prime Minister of India, to
avoid partition. But Jinna refused.
Despite Gandhiji’s assurance to the people that, “The country will
be partitioned over my dead body'', Jinna successfully carved a Pakistan
for Muslims, by partitioning India. Congress policy of Muslim
appeasement under the leadership of Gandhiji failed miserably. Dr.
Ambedkar had anticipated the consequences of partition and suggested
exchange of population before giving effect to partition. But the then
leaders of the Congress party, it is alleged, made haste and Congress
suddenly accepted the partitoning of India. Savarkar opposed partition
till the end. He welcomed freedom but was very much aggrieved by the
partition. Partition of India devastated thousands of Hindu and Muslim
families. Lacs of Hindus and Muslims migrated. Pakistan was officially
declared as a Muslim nation. Hindus were driven out of Pakistan and
Its Hindu population came down from 22% to 1%. On the other hand,

13 ASHTVINAYAKDARSHAN
Bharat became a secular nation and Muslim population in Bharat is now
on the rise. It should never be forgotten that the partition took place
purely based on Muslim demand for a separate nation for themselves.
This should never be allowed to happen again in Bharat. Pakistan has
survived on the hatred towards Bharat till now. After its defeat in Bangla
Desh War, Pakistan is using TERRORISM as a weapon against Bharat.
Gandhiji wanted congress party to be dissolved after getting freedom,
but his followers conveniently ignored the suggestion completely.
Followers of Mahatmaji were in power for a very long period after
Independence. They tried to brainwash the people to believe that the
freedom was only due to the efforts of the followers of Mahatmaji.
Contribution of all those freedom fighters who did not follow the path
preached by Gandhiji during freedom struggle was totally ignored by the
congress rulers at that time. Savarkar was not only a victim of this neglect
but was further insulted by being arrested and tried in Gandhi-murder
case. Since there was no proof against him, Savarkar was arrested under
Security Act, 6 days after the murder. Five weeks later, he was shown to
be arrested under Gandhi murder case, after creating false proofs. The
special court completely rejected all of them and acquitted him of all the
charges against him. The court verdict was so flawless and undisputable,
that the then Government dared not think to challenge it in Higher
courts.
After independence, Savarkar repeatedly urged the Government
to build up an armed force capable of an offensive, because ‘attack is
the best form of defence’. The Government wasted a precious period of
15 years, completely neglecting his warnings. In December 1962 China
attacked India and this nation was completely disillusioned. India got
miserably defeated. To infuse the lost confidence of the defeated nation,
he wrote the last part of his ‘SIX GOLDEN PAGES FROM INDIAN
HISTORY.’ Savarkar’s preaching have stood the test of time. In 1966,
Savarkar, then an ailing old man of 83, thought that continuing to remain
alive thereafter was futile. He felt that the purpose of his life was over.
He, therefore, wrote an article to discuss the difference between Suicide
and surrendering oneself [AmË_mn©U]. And with malice towards none, he
undertook ‘PRAYOPVESHAN’, a way of farewell to life by fasting unto
death. On 26th February 1966, he breathed his last in Savarkar Sadan,
the Darshan of which completes our Ashtvinayak pilgrimage.
The Author has published following more detailed e-books on
www.bookganga.com and are available for FREE DOWNLOAD.

14 ASHTVINAYAKDARSHAN
 1) ASHTVINAYAKDARSHAN in Marathi
2) A Darshan of Swatantryaveer Savarkar in English

SAVARKAR'S EVERGREEN AND PROPHETIC THOUGHTS

“I ndian patriots had to motivate the people of this nation to adopt

revolutionary ways which were at times destructive and against
the prevailing rules, since getting Independence was our foremost duty
then. Abandoning all that is the foremost duty now. Law abiding and
constructive attitude is our national duty now!”
[Expressed in 1950 after getting Independence.]
“We will survive and win, if and only if , we adopt tit for tat policy
in our political dealing with foreigners. The aggressive world around us,
equipped with atom bomb, is looking for an opportunity to grab. You
too should use this golden opportunity of newly sought independence to
raise a formidable army. You may have your philosophy in one hand but
should possess an atom bomb in your right hand. You must not only use
this power for the defence of this nation but should use it for aggression,
if the need arises.”
[Expressed in 1950 when the Congress party under the leadership of
pandit Nehru thought that no one will attack India]
“That nation which nurtures its armed forces,just enough for its defence,
but does not make it strong enough for aggression, and believes that doing
so is a sin , is either misleadIng itself or is internally intimidated. The
nation , with its armed forces , logistically in a state of readiness to attack,
automatically possesses defence capabilities as well.” [Expressed in 1963 ,
after China attacked and miserably defeated us.]
“In my hard, painful and distressed life, a very unpleasant but very
beneficial thumb rule, imbibed in me,was very helpful. Always keep in
mind, the possibility of adverse outcome. I always kept myself mentally
prepared to face the adverse outcome. In case of favourable outcome ,
there is no harm at all, but the joy of getting the desired results gets
enhanced. But the habit of taking success for granted will definitely
and completely crush one's courage to face the situation in the event of
adverse outcome.” [From “MAZI JANMTHEP”]
“ India has given a unique gift to the world in the form of Yog (`moJ) .
The study therein of the effect of body and mind on one another, is really
amazing. There is nothing mysterious or secret in it. The principles in it
are based on science and can be subjected to experimentation.”

15 ASHTVINAYAKDARSHAN
References :
1. _mPr OÝ_R>no : {d. Xm. gmdaH$a 2. ñdmV§Í`dra gmdaH$a : YZ§O` H$sa 3. gmdaH$am§Mm
~w{ÕdmX Am{U qhXþËddmX : àm. eofamd _moao 4. gmdaH$am§À`m g_mOH$maUmMo A§Va§J : àm. eofamd
_moao 5. Jm§YrhË`m Am{U gmdaH$am§Mr ~XZm_r : àm. eofamd _moao 6. gmdaH$a ñ_maH$J«W
§ : gmdaH$a
Xe©Z à{Vð>mZ 7. ñdmV§Í`dra gmdaH$am§À`m VoOñdr OrdZmdarb Abm¡{H$H$ {deofm§H$ : gmdaH$a Xe©Z
à{Vð>mZ 8. 1857Mo ñdmV§Í`g_a : {d. Xm. gmdaH$a - J«mhH${hV àH$meZ

THANKSGIVING
The encouragement came from many, Prof. Ramesh Deshpande, shri.
Purushottam Kulkarni of Solapur, Editor, AjaboU,§ {Xdmir 2009; Shri. Vivek
Ghalasasi, Founder of Savarkar Vichar Manch, Solapur; Shri. Prashant
Badave, shri. Sharad Bansode (Ex M.P.), my friend Prof. Mukund
Deuskar, Prof. S.G. Kulkarni, Prof. Bhaskar S. Joshi, shri. Balkrishna N.
Bedekar (Appa), Mukund Lele, P. M. Harshe, Vishal Bhagat, my younger
brother Dr. Prabhakar, my grandson Atharv and all the members of my
family, in particular. I am very much thankful to all of them.

MIND SPEAKS
The evergreen thoughts of Swatantryaveer Savarkar on various walks
of life are still very relevant and should reach the young generation. For the
young generation studying and passing out of English medium schools, I
felt it necessary to make available a small booklet in English on Savarkar.
Savarkar's valour in his daring attempt to escape, towering patriotism,
boundless sacrifice in the struggle for independence and thereafter,
rational intelligence , scientific outlook, image as a great social reformer,
unique dedication to thoughts on building a strong and prosperous nation,
his literature and poetry, are the ingredients, having a great potential
of becoming an inspiring icon for the Indian people. Those who were
against his concept of Hindurashtra , which is basically secular in nature,
started a systematic campaign of not only misinterpreting his thoughts
and deeds but started showing his involvement in Gandhi-murder
conspiracy, based on so-called new proofs, totally unsustainable in any
sense , anywhere. This campaign is going on vigorously and untiringly
after his death. This anti-Savarkar campaign is completely exposed by
famous Marathi writer Prof. Sheshrao More in his book “Jm§Yr hË`m Am{U
gmdaH$am§Mr ~XZm_r”.

16 ASHTVINAYAKDARSHAN
 Cover 3

Inauguration of Savarkar's portrait

in Central Hall of parliament on
26-2-2003.

Babarao Savarkar’s poem in Memorial

Abhinav Bharat Mandir,

Nashik (Interior)

Author and Publisher

Publisher : Mrs. Rohini Shashikant

Gokhale,

Author : Shashikant Damodar Gokhale

COPYRIGHT All Rights Reserved Prisoner used like a bullock at

coconut oil mill called KOLU
 Back Cover

Savarkar’s Birth Place, Bhagur,

Nashik [Exterior] Savarkar’s Birth Place , Bhagur, Nashik [Interior]

Hostel room (interior). Room open for all It isopen for paying homage on 26th
on 26 February and 28 May. February and 28 th May every year.

Brighton Seashore, England Patit Pavan Mandir, Commemorative plate on

(birthplace of gmJam àmU Vi_ibm) Ratnagiri India House.