Vinayak Damodar Savarkar: Founder of 'Hindutva'
Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, a politician, activist, and visionary behind Hindutva, reshaped the very essence of Indian nationalism. His life, marked by defiance against British rule and a pursuit of a Hindu cultural identity, left an indelible imprint on the nation’s history.
Born on May 28, 1883, in Bhagur village near Nasik, Savarkar belonged to the Chitpavan Brahmin community, which had produced notable freedom fighters, such as Nana Sahib and Lokmanya Tilak. His early education took place at Shivaji High School before he pursued further studies at Ferguson College, Poona. Savarkar engaged in nationalist politics, leading to his expulsion from college. However, he was permitted to complete his degree and secured a scholarship to study law at Gray’s Inn in London.
In London, from 1906 to 1910, Savarkar became deeply involved in radical activities, instructing fellow Indian nationalists in sabotage and assassination tactics, reportedly influenced by Russian insurgents in Paris. His writings reflected his nationalist fervour, particularly his book ‘The Indian War of Independence, 1857.’ He also established connections with international rebellious movements and met Russian leader Vladimir Lenin.
Savarkar’s radical ideology led to his involvement in events that would ultimately seal his fate. In 1909, Madan Lal Dhingra assassinated Sir William Curzon Wyllie in London, an act that Savarkar publicly supported. Though not present at the scene, he was suspected of having supplied Dhingra with the weapon. As the British tightened their grip on Indian revolutionaries, Savarkar fled to Paris, but later returned to London in 1910, where he was arrested and imprisoned in Brixton Jail. He was soon extradited to India and, during his transport aboard a British steamship, attempted a daring escape at Marseilles, only to be recaptured. His case became a topic of international legal debate, and he was sentenced to life imprisonment.
Savarkar arrived at the Cellular Jail in the Andaman Islands in July 1911, enduring a decade of harsh confinement. In 1921, he was transferred to Ratnagiri in the Bombay Presidency, remaining imprisoned up to 1924 and under strict internment until 1937. During this period, he penned ‘Essentials of Hindutva’, which sought to define Indian identity through a lens of Hindu cultural nationalism. In it, he introduced the concept of ‘Hindutva,’ emphasising a civilisational unity rooted in Hindu heritage, which later influenced the ideological framework of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), a nationalist organisation founded in 1925.
He joined the Hindu Mahasabha in 1937, advocating a vision of India that prioritised Hindu political and cultural supremacy. His tenure as president of the Mahasabha saw him opposing the policies of the Indian National Congress, particularly its stance on Hindu-Muslim unity. After India’s Independence, his political career became controversial. In 1948, following the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi by Nathuram Godse, a former member of the Hindu Mahasabha, Savarkar was implicated, but later acquitted due to lack of evidence.
Despite the controversies surrounding him, Savarkar remained a key ideological figure in Hindu nationalist circles. His followers honoured him with the title ‘Veer’. In his final years, he espoused the idea of ‘atmaarpan’ (self-sacrifice), arguing that when one's life mission is fulfilled, it is better to embrace death. Following this belief, he renounced food and medication, passing away on February 26, 1966, at his residence in Bombay. His last rites were conducted in accordance with his wishes at an electric crematorium. However, his death saw no official mourning from the Maharashtra government or the Centre, reflecting the political indifference that continued to surround his legacy.
