The Spellbinding Allure Of Savarkar

It's the Birth Anniversary of Vinayak Savarkar

Today is the 140th birth anniversary of Vinayak Damodar Savarkar. The best possible day to share what I’ve been meaning to write about for a long time now.

As you know, I’ve been working on my novel India House for three years now, interrupted by the various stages of a new child. The novel is based on very real events that transpired between 1905 and 1910 in London, Paris, Bombay Province, Calcutta, and Pondicherry. The center of all these events is Vinayak Savarkar. It’s essentially his origin story.

Towards this end, I’ve read many books, newspaper articles, and research papers. Savarkar continues to be hotly debated to this day, and everyone who can have an opinion about him chooses to air it quite publicly. Everyone agrees he had a very sharp mind, was way ahead of his peers, and was a skilled and prolific writer.

However, what I’ve found missing in the discourse has been his personality. In hindsight, everyone has strong opinions about him, but how did it feel to work with him, and share space with him? How did it feel to spend time with him? What did his friends think of him back in the day? His dissidents? Rivals? How did his mind work?

Most importantly, how did he attract so many people who were willing to put their life on the line for the idea of India? The events I’m describing span from when he was 22-27. At such a young age, what sort of a personality do you have to have to have the British parliament debating your newspaper columns, and considering you the most dangerous man in the Empire?

I had to piece these answers together from so many different accounts and sources. I even looked at his horoscope for some clues, because why not.

It goes without saying that the constant line that runs through his story is of how quick-minded and clever he is, so I won’t dwell on that. But beyond that, the first emotion I felt is pain.

It is hard not to feel sorry for Savarkar when you read his story. He loses his parents early. His family loses their wealth, and just when things are looking up, their property gets frozen and seized. The three brothers all go to prison, two of them for fifty years - a literal life term. He has ideas ahead of his time, and most of it doesn’t pan out - a possibility he fully accepts and a risk he still decides is worth it.

Usually, when people come across others with serial misfortunes, they feel discomfort. Mostly from suppressing thoughts and words that imply that the sufferer has made decisions that have led them to this state, and they could have made better choices.

But, you meet Mr. Savarkar, get to know his story, and you can’t imagine telling him to be any different. You know that the choices he’s making, and the goals he has are important. Because what could be more important than Indians getting the freedom to govern themselves? Even those most opposed to him on that point would do so with an undercurrent of “it’s impossible to overthrow the British”.

Besides, his entire family is dedicated to this cause. So you know there isn’t any personal or selfish motive he is chasing. His motives are transparent. His activities may be opaque at the moment, but you know it will all lead straight back to Indian independence.

And, sure, he is taking on more than he can handle. Biting off more than he can chew. You can’t tell him to take on less, because he’s basically also taking on your share of the burden.

All you can do with a man like him is to lend a hand to lighten his load.

Now, suddenly, you too are a collaborator.

And the British Empire is coming at you with all its might.

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