#Thread| #VeerSavarkar, one the bravest revolutionary freedom fighters of India

Vinayak Damodar Savarkar was born on 28May,1883 in Maharashtra. Since his childhood, he was attracted towards freedom movement. He started taking participation in freedom fights from his school days.

At the time when British used the divide and rule tactics to spread communal hatred between Hindus and Muslims in places where the freedom movement gained momentum.

A 12 YO Savarkar, witnessed the communal clash for first time in his village and resisted the attack with a bunch of his friends. Despite being outnumbered, Savarkar inspired his friends to join him and chase away the Muslim mob out of the village.

The said incident disturbed Savarkar, and he understood that different community members were pitched against each other by the British in order break India on the basis of religion and caste.

Savarkar realized that people were losing National identity and there was a need for Nationalist movement to bring people of India together. And, hence at the age of 15, he started a youth organization called Mitra Mela (Group of Friends) to promote nationalist ideas.

In 1902, Savarkar joined the #FergussonCollege in Pune for BA, where he started giving speeches on Nationalism, patriotism and revolutionary movements.

Inspired by Lokamanya Tilak’s call to boycott all foreign clothes, in which he organized a bonfire during Dusshera festival to burn all foreign clothes.

In 1905, during Dusshera festival Savarkar organized setting a bonfire of foreign goods and clothes. Along with his fellow students and friends he started a political outfit Abhinav Bharat.

Savarkar was expelled from his college due to his activities but was allowed to take his Bachelor of Arts degree examinations. After completing his degree, Nationalist Shyam Krishnavarma helped him to go England to study law on a scholarship.

It was during this period, Tilak founded Garam Dal, (translated as Hot Wing/Group) — due to split between Congress and him, as he was upset with Congress agenda to hold dialogues and reconciliation with British. Tilak advocated the philosophy of Swaraj and was soon imprisoned.

After joining Gray's Inn Law college in London, Savarkar took accommodation at India house. Organized by expatriate social and political activist Pandit Shyamji, India House was thriving hub for student political activities.

Savarkar soon founded 'Free India Society' to help and organize fellow Indian students with the goal of Fighting for complete Independence through a revolution.

He said, "We must stop complaining about this British officer or that officer, this law or that law. There would be no end to that....

... Our movement must not be limited to being against any particular law, but it must be for acquiring the authority to make laws itself. In other words, we want absolute independence.”

Savarkar was an avid reader and had read many books on war techniques. Studying the history of revolt, from English as well as Indian source of books. He emphasized a guerrilla war for Independence along the lines of the famous armed uprising of 1857.

Savarkar wrote the book, The History of the War id Indian Independence. He analyzed the circumstances of 1857 uprising and assailed British rule in India as unjust and oppressive.

The book was an instant hit and made Savarkar one of the first writers to allude the uprising as India's first war for Independence. The book was banned from publication throughout the British Empire.

Madame Bhikaji Cama and expatriate Indian Revolutionary obtained its publications in the Netherlands, France and Germany. Widely smuggled and circulated, the book attained great popularity and influenced rising Young Indians.