Veer Savarkar

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 (26th February).

Who was Veer Savarkar?

  • Birth: Born on 28th 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 26th 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