Remembering Vinayak Damodar Savarkar(Veer Savarkar) on his birth anniversary. A true patriot whose image was maligned. Probably the most controversial figures in Modern India, and someone who still finds relevance in today's India.
#VeerSavarkar
#veer_savarkar_jayanti
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In the Early 1900s Savarkar Formed 1st Secret society in India called Abhinav Bharat, and was the first Indian to ask for Poorna Swaraj in 1905 (Till then INC was still under the conflicts of Moderates and Extremists, Poorna swaraj was adopted by INC in 1929).
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Bhagat Singh got 2nd Edition of this book published, and standard for recruitment in HSRA. Sukhdev and Bhagat would ask new appointees to read this book.
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..still after returning to his cell he used to do his favourite thing, carving out poems using his nails in wall (these poems were published after his release, thanks to his photographic memory and the genius of the man).
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Conceptualised and executed 1st student bonfire movement approved by Tilak in Fergusson College Poona to revolt against partition of Bengal. One of the few revolutionaries who was NOT inspired by Marx, but rather believed in the concept of "A pen is mightier that the sword".
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On Tilak's recommendation, Savarkar got Shivaji Scholarship to study in London, and he lived in "India House"(nerve centre of students movement in London).
Remaining under British surveillance, he translated Mazzini's(Italian revolutionary) biography in Marathi.
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1st book in the history of world literature which was banned before its publication. Still members of India House manages to smuggle this manuscript to India(after trying it to get printed in various parts of Europe).
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Due to various revolutionary activities carried out across India, suspicion goes back to India House in London , VD Savarkar's brother Babarao is sent to kaalapani.
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He then fought a case in London against his own extradition but lost it and was extradited to India(Sedition laws were much more repressive in India than in Britain).
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Got 2 life sentences of 25 years (total of 50 years that too in kaalapani which by any means was the most horrific jail in the world back then), harshest punishment in freedom struggle, without getting a chance to appeal, in Nashik's murder case and other cases.
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Oh hearing 2 life sentences, he laughed and said, "At least, I was able to convince you Britishers about the Hindu concept of multiple lives". The sheer audacity of the man that is Veer Savarkar.
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