Veer Savarkar

• 28 Feb 2022

For Prelims: Veer Savarkar, Morley-Minto reform (Indian Councils Act 1909), Abhinav Bharat Society, India House, Free India Society, Hindu Mahasabha

For Mains: Veer Savarkar and his role in freedom struggle, Veer Savarkar

Why in News?

Recently, the Prime Minister has paid tributes to freedom fighter Veer Savarkar on his Punya tithi (26^th February).

Who was Veer Savarkar?

• Birth: Born on 28^th May,1883 in Bhagur, a village near Nashik in Maharashtra.
• Related Organisations and Work:
  • Founded a secret society called Abhinav Bharat Society.
  • Went to the United Kingdom and was involved with organizations such as India House and the Free India Society.
  • He was the president of Hindu Mahasabha from 1937 to 1943.
  • Savarkar wrote a book titled ‘The History of the War of Indian Independence’ in which he wrote about the guerilla warfare tricks used in 1857 Sepoy Mutiny.
  • He also wrote the book ‘Hindutva: who is hindu?’.
• Trial and Sentences:
  • Arrested in 1909 on charges of plotting an armed revolt against the Morley-Minto reform (Indian Councils Act 1909).
  • Arrested in 1910 for his connections with the revolutionary group India House.
  • One of the charges on Savarkar was abetment to murder of Nashik Collector Jackson and the second was waging a conspiracy under Indian Penal Code 121-A against the King emperor.
  • Following the two trials, Savarkar was convicted and sentenced to 50-years imprisonment also known as Kala Pani and transported in 1911 to the Cellular Jail in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
• Death: He died on 26^th February 1966 due to fasting on his own wish of death.

Abhinav Bharat Society (Young India Society)

• It was a secret society founded by Vinayak Damodar Savarkar and his brother Ganesh Damodar Savarkar in 1904.
• Initially founded at Nasik as Mitra Mela, the society was associated with several revolutionaries and political activists with branches in various parts of India and London.

India House

• It was founded by Shyamji Kishan Verma in 1905 in London.
• It was opened to promote nationalist views among Indian students in London.

Free India Society

• Savarkar went to London in 1906. He soon founded the Free India Society, based on the thoughts of the Italian nationalist Giuseppe Mazzini (Savarkar had written a biography of Mazzini).

Hindu Mahasabha

• Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha is one of the oldest organizations of India as it was formed in 1907. Eminent leaders extended this Organization in 1915 on ALL India basis.
• The Eminent personalities who founded this Organisation and who presided over the ALL INDIA Sessions held include Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya, Lal Lajpat Rai, Veer Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, etc.

Source: PIB