Veer Savarkar Birth Anniversary 2024: Recently, The Prime Minister has paid tributes to Veer Savarkar on his Jayanti.
Veer Savarkar Jayanti 2024
India celebrates Veer Savarkar Jayanti every year on May 28 to commemorate the birth anniversary of Vinayak Damodar “Veer” Savarkar.
- Savarkar was a prominent freedom fighter and advocate for the development of the Hindu community.
- He strongly advocated for the abolition of the caste system in India.
- Savarkar encouraged the reconversion of individuals who had converted to other religions back to Hinduism.
- As a politician, activist, and writer, Savarkar was a multifaceted figure.
- He is credited with developing the Hindu nationalist political ideology of Hindutva while detained in Ratnagiri in 1922.
- Savarkar became a leading figure in the Hindu Mahasabha, a right-wing Hindu nationalist organization.
- His followers added the prefix ‘Veer’ (meaning brave) to his name in recognition of his contributions.
- The glorification of Savarkar’s life and legacy remains controversial, especially within the context of contemporary Indian politics.
Biography of Vinayak Damodar Veer Savarkar
Veer Savarkar is also known as Swatantryaveer Savarkar or Veer Savarkar in Marathi, was a freedom fighter, politician, lawyer and a writer.
- Born: on May 28, 1883, in Bhagur Village, Nashik, Maharashtra.
Veer Savarkar’s Contribution in India’s Freedom Struggle
Veer Savarkar coined the Hindu nationalist ideology of ‘Hindutva’. and
- He was a pivotal leader in the ‘Hindu Mahasabha’ in 1907.
- Involvement in Politics:
- As a high school student, Savarkar became involved in politics and continued to do so at Fergusson College in Pune.
- During his legal studies in the United Kingdom, Veer Savarkar got involved in organizations such as the India House and the Free India Society.
- Literary Work: “The Indian War of Independence,” which depicted the Indian revolt of 1857.
- Due to his association with the India House, He was arrested in 1910 and was deported to India.
Veer Savarkar’s Years in Prison
Savarkar was sentenced to two life imprisonments and was sent to the cellular jail in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, also known as Kala Pani, in 1911.
- During his prison years, He wrote a Hindu ideological pamphlet named Hindutva: Who is a Hindu?.
- He was released from prison in 1924.
- After his release he played a major role in the ‘Ratnagiri Hindu Sabha’.
- From February 1966, Savarkar began to fast unto death, forsaking food, water and medicines .
- He passed away on February 26, 1966.
Organisations Associated to Veer Savarkar
Here are some organisations which were associated with Veer Savarkar;
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Mitra Mela:
- It was the predecessor of Abhinav Bharat Society, formed in Nasik during his teenage years to spread national & revolutionary ideas.
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Abhinav Bharat Society (Young India Society):
- Established with the support of his brother Ganesh Damodar Savarkar in 1904.
- It attracted numerous revolutionaries and political activists, establishing branches across India and London.
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India House:
- Founded by Shyamji Kishan Verma in 1905, India House served as a hub for promoting nationalist sentiments among Indian students in London.
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Free India Society (in London in 1906):
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- He established it by drawing inspiration from the ideals of Italian nationalist Mazzini.
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Hindu Mahasabha:
- Initially formed in 1907, it expanded to a national level in 1915, with eminent figures such as Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya, Lal Lajpat Rai.
- He served as the president of Hindu Mahasabha for 7 years(1937-1943).
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Also Read: Modern History