Questions and Answers This section deals with various aspects of Savarkar’s life, thought, actions and relevance in a question and answer format. Questions are raised regarding Savarkar and his place in Indian history. Some of these questions stem from genuine curiosity and willingness to understand. Some questions take the form of accusations born out of outright ignorance or sheer malice. This section aims to address some of these questions...
Kashinath Laxman (aka Aba) Parulekar
Born in 1888, studied B.Ag. (Present B.Sc. Agriculture) of Pune University. He developed and looked after the family’s ancestral properties at village Parule in present Sindhudurg District. In 1925, he came in contact of Savarkar and became his lifelong follower. He was also involved in the local social and political activities...
Veer Savarkar was a relentless champion of social reform. During his time, Hindu society had been weakened by seven shackles namely sparshabandi or untouchability, shuddhibandi or prohibition of reconversion, betibandi or prohibition of inter-caste marriages, rotibandi or prohibition of inter caste dining, sindhubandi or prohibition of seafaring, vyavasayabandi or prohibition of following profession of other castes and vedoktabandi or prohibition of performing Vedic rites. Through his speeches, writings ..
Amongst other things, Swatantryaveer Vinayak Damodar Savarkar was a great social reformer. His thoughts on social reform have fundamental significance. However, what is more important is that he practiced what he preached. As he himself said, “He who gives up verbosity and acts as per the principle of ‘irrespective of whether others do it or not, as far as I am concerned, I will practice reform on a daily basis” alone is a true reformer. (1935, Hindutvache panchapran or The Spirit of Hindutva; ..
Swatantryaveer Vinayak Damodar Savarkar (28 May 1883 to 26 Feb 1966) was a fearless freedom fighter, social reformer, writer, dramatist, historian, political leader and philosopher. Unfortunately, Savarkar has been a victim of malice and misinformation. Those who disagree with Savarkar’s political views start with the assumption that he was an obscurantist and a reactionary bigot. As a considerable part of his literature is in Marathi, his thoughts and achievements in several spheres are largely ..
Note: The term ‘shuddhi’ literally means ‘purification’. It refers to the re-conversion into the Hindu fold of non-Hindus, especially of those Hindus who have been converted to other religions by hook or crook. The word ‘shuddhi’ has been retained throughout in this section. Prohibition of shuddhi or re-conversion was one of the seven shackles that chained Hindu society in Savarkar’s time. Savarkar’s assorted views on the other six shackles are given in another section. Given below is an English translatio..
Given below is an English translation of Savarkar’s assorted views on abolition of caste The basic aim of consolidating Hindu society The Hindu social jurists had based social organization on the principle of distribution of duties sans competition and mutual co-operation as means to attain earthly prosperity on the path to salvation of the soul. The duties of every individual from the shudra to the Brahmin were defined to facilitate societal development. But fighting spirit (kshaatratej) is necessary ..
Given below is an English translation of Savarkar’s assorted views on eradication of untouchability
Why should untouchability be eradicated? To regard our 70 million co-religionists as ‘untouchables’ and worse than animals is an insult not only to humanity but also to the sanctity of our soul. It is my firm conviction that this is why untouchability should be principally eradicated. Untouchability should go also because its eradication is in the interests of our Hindu society. Even if the Hindu society ..
Given below is an English translation of Savarkar’s assorted views on ‘reformer’.Who is a true reformer?
He who gives up verbosity and acts as per the principle of ‘irrespective of whether others do it or not, as far as I am concerned, I will practise reform on a daily basis” alone is a true reformer. (1935, Hindutvache panchapran or The Spirit of Hindutva; Samagra Savarkar vangmaya, Vol. 3, p.75)..
Note: The word ‘samskara’ refers broadly to the deliberate and positive influences which help create deep and lasting impressions on the mind of a person so as to generate interest in him about Truth and Dharma, help bring out a positive personality and free the mind of its negativities. In this section, the word ‘samskara’ has been used by Savarkar to refer to the sixteen traditional Hindu samskaras. These are..
According to Savarkar, the Hindu society was bound by seven shackles ( bandi ) viz. prohibition of touch (sparshabandi) of certain castes, prohibition of interdining (rotibandi) with certain castes, prohibition of intercaste marriages (betibandi), prohibition of pursuing certain occupations(vyavasayabandi), prohibition of seafaring (sindhubandi), prohibition of rites sanctioned by the Vedas (vedoktabandi), prohibition of reconversion (shuddhibandi) to the Hindu fold. Given below is an English translation ..