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UNION Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday paid glowing tributes to freedom fighter Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, describing him as a writer as well as a fighter who laid the foundation of “Cultural Nationalism”. Amit Shah and RSS chief Dr Mohan Bhagwat unveiled a statue of Vinayak Damodar Savarkar at Beodnabad in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

 

The statue has been installed in a park in the South Andaman district. Speaking at an event in Sri Vijaya Puram on the completion of 115 years of a collection of Savarkar’s poems, ‘Sagara Prana Talamalla’, Shah said, “The ideology of Swatantryaveer Savarkar should be propagated and shared by parents with their children.” He credited Savarkar for laying the foundation and defining the concept of “Cultural Nationalism” – an ideology which is guiding the Government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Shah said, Savarkar was never given the recognition he deserved for his efforts to eradicate untouchability in the country as he courageously fought against the prevalent evils within Hindu society, and continued to progress despite facing opposition from the community. The Home Minister said Savarkar was a writer as well as a fighter. He was a born patriot and also a sage-seer.  

 

He was also a social reformer, poet, and author. Proficiency in both prose and poetry is attained by a very few writers, said Shah. “I have read his literature very thoroughly, and even today I cannot decide whether he was a good poet or a writer; he was excellent in both forms. Later, he also became a great linguist. By creating many new words, he enriched our language. There are about 600 or more words that Veer Savarkar gave to enrich our languages,” he said. Talking about the unveiling of his statue by RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, Shah said, “This statue of Savarkar Ji is a symbol of the sacrifice, resolve, and dedication to Mother India by Veer Savarkar Ji in the Cellular Jail.” “It will convey a message to generations for many decades to come to draw inspiration from Savarkar Ji’s life. The message of Veer Savarkar’s courage, the message of devotion to duty towards the motherland, his quality of steadfastness, and the vision of national unity, security, and a prosperous nation — the dreams of all these will be enshrined by this statue,” said the Home Minister. He said that before Independence, whichever prisoner was brought to the Cellular Jail was forgotten by their family.

 

“No one thought that anyone could return from this jail. Today, this place has become a pilgrimage site for all of us Indians because Veer Savarkar Ji spent his difficult time here,” he said. Shah said, “This place is also connected to the memories of Netaji Subhas Babu. The Azad Hind Fauj had liberated the Andaman-Nicobar Islands first, and Subhas Babu had stayed here for two days. He had suggested naming this island group ‘Shaheed’ and ‘Swaraj’, which PM Modi has implemented.” The Andaman-Nicobar is such a sacred land of penance where freedom fighters who came from across India made their sacrifices, said HM Shah. “From every province, someone or the other was hanged on the gallows here. On this very sacred land, the unveiling of Veer Savarkar’s statue has been done by the hand of the respected Dr Mohan Bhagwat ji, the Sarsanghchalak of the RSS, the organisation that truly advances Savarkar ji’s ideology,” said the Home Minister.

 

“This land is also sacred, the memory of Veer Savarkar is sacred, and the unveiling of this statue by Bhagwat ji’s hands will make it eternally memorable,” he added. Shah said Savarkar was sentenced to two life sentences in one lifetime. “When he arrived at the Cellular Jail, the jailer said, ‘Savarkar, you have come, but you will not be able to leave’. To this, he replied, ‘I will definitely go; the lifespan of your kingdom is shorter than mine. I will leave only after seeing Mother India free’. Such was his unwavering faith in the future of this country and in India’s Independence,” he said. “A line by Savarkar is very important for many of his followers like me -- ‘valour is not the absence of fear, but victory over fear’. True heroes are those who understand fear and have the courage to defeat it,” he said, adding that the ideologue was given the title of ‘veer’ not by the government but by the people, which reflected his acceptance.

 

After the unveiling event at 3.15 pm, Shah and Bhagwat planted ‘Rudraksha’ trees inside the park. The Home Minister and the RSS chief were greeted at the venue by D K Joshi, Lt Governor and Vice Chairman of the Islands Development Agency (IDA). Savarkar was imprisoned in the Cellular Jail in Port Blair (now known as Sri Vijaya Puram) by the British in 1911. Shah arrived here around 12.30 am, while Bhagwat reached the archipelago on Thursday evening, to commemorate 115 years of Savarkar’s iconic song, ‘Sagara Pran Talamala’, officials said. Bhagwat is scheduled to address a public gathering on Saturday under the banner of ‘Virat Hindu Sammelan’ at Netaji Stadium around 3.30 pm in Sri Vijaya Puram, the officials said. On Sunday, the RSS chief will attend another gathering at DBRAIT around 10 am, and depart from the archipelago at 1.50 pm, they added.

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