Veer Savarkar - Oath to Ashtabhuja Devi - Part 2

While understanding the character of the revolution, Savarkar understood the balasthāna (strengths) and ābālasthānas (weaknesses) of an armed revolution. This mīmāṁsa (analysis) of Bengali and Maharashtrian revolutionaries gave him a deep affection towards these regions.

Svatantrayveer Savarkar was born in a Citpāvana Brāhmaṇa family, most of these Citpāvana Brāhmaṇas came from the Konkan region of Maharashtra and later migrated to various parts of Maharashtra. Employed by the Peshwas, this clan was known for its sharp wit and administrative acumen during the Maratha period.

Having their roots near the areas of Guhagar and Chiplun, it can be assumed that the name Savarkar might have originated from a small hamlet named Savarwadi in this geography. Vinayak Damodar Savarkar was born on 28 May 1883, an auspicious day of Vaiśākha Śukla Ṣaṣṭhī, Śaka Saṁvat 1805, in Bhagur, a village near Nashik. His parents, Shri Damodarpant and Smt. Radhabai belonged to a prosperous middle-class family. The Savarkar family was blessed with four children: three sons, Ganesh, Vinayak, and Narayan, and a daughter, Mainabai.

All Savarkars were well-educated and had a deep and astute knowledge of the Vedas and Sanskrit. Vinayak grew up listening to passages read out by his father from the epics Mahābhārata and Rāmāyaṇa, as well as ballads and Bakhars on Maharana Pratap, Chhatrapati Shivaji, and the Peshwas. He was a voracious reader, devouring any book or newspaper from cover to cover, page to page. An inborn genius, Savarkar had a rare talent for poetry; his poems were published by well-known newspapers when he was hardly ten years old. Young Vinayak, being an adventurous kid, loved playing with his younger brother and friends all around his village of Bhagur, Rahuri, and Trimbakeshwar.

Misfortune fell on the family when he lost his mother Radhabai at the very young age of ten, as she succumbed to the plague. His father took on the role of both mother and father, caring for the family. Even as a young boy, Vinayak was very conscious of the sufferings of people. He was emotionally stirred by the miseries caused by famine and plague, compounded by the harsh treatment and excesses committed by the British Raj. Treating the peasantry of Kunbis who worked for his family as his own, he showed early signs of breaking the social stigmas that afflicted society.

After completing his primary education in Bhagur, he was sent to Nashik by his elder brother Babarao, who made immense efforts to educate his younger brother. In Nashik, Vinayak received an education in English and was exposed to colonial education, which further shaped his revolutionary ideas and commitment to India’s independence.

In Nashik, Vinayak met friends who would later become instrumental in the formation of Mitra Mela on 1 January 1900. This group included Vartak, Mashkar, Aba Pangle, Kavi Govind, and Vaman Datar, all of whom shared a common goal: the complete political independence of India. Mitra Mela was later renamed Abhinava Bhārata, closely resembling the ‘Young Italy’ movement of Giuseppe Mazzini and the revolutionary societies in Russia.

Tragically, Vinayak lost his father to the plague on 9 September 1898, which plunged the family into financial difficulties. Recognizing Vinayak’s brilliance, Bhaurao Chiplunkar, who later became Vinayak’s father-in-law, took on the responsibility of his education. He identified the spark in this brilliant mind and declared, “Vinayak is a son to me; I shall take on the responsibility for educating him.”

In 1901, Savarkar married Yamunabai, Bhaurao’s daughter. The couple had three children—two daughters and one son. This support and personal stability allowed Savarkar to continue his education and further his revolutionary activities.

Completing his matriculation, Savarkar furthered his education in Pune, a hub of intellectual and revolutionary activities. Pune was home to great leaders and intellectuals such as Lokmanya Tilak, R.G. Bhandarkar, and Rajwade. Tilak, who later became Savarkar’s political and spiritual guru, had inspired him from a young age. Svatantryaveer was also deeply influenced by the political writings of Shivram Madhav Paranjape whose weekly called Kaal had a significant impact in shaping the political and ideological mind of young Vinayak.

Earlier, the assassination of two British Plague Commissioners by the Chapekar brothers in Pune on 22 June 1897, and the subsequent execution of Damodarpant Chapekar, deeply disturbed young Savarkar. He took a vow in front of Aṣṭabhuja Durgā to sacrifice his nearest and dearest, fighting fiercely unto his last breath, to fulfill the incomplete mission of the martyred Chapekar brothers. He vowed to drive the British out of his motherland and make her free and great once again. Greatness knows no age; just as Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj vowed to create Swarajya at a young age, so did Veer Savarkar’s vow to liberate his motherland chained in the foreign yoke. Savarkar took admission to Fergusson College, where the principal was Wrangler Paranjape.

An interesting anecdote is that the Superintendent of Police of Nashik, Montgomery, in his report on extremists in the district, noted that a fiery orator named Savarkar had left for Pune. Montgomery observed that such a young orator could articulate the most complex philosophies in simple yet engaging terms, speaking from a sharp, intellectually superior, factual, and historical perspective. He considered such young men potential threats to the British Empire.

During his college years, Savarkar was deeply involved in revolutionary activities and impressed those around him. He spent his time spreading the word against the British Empire. His eloquence had a profound impact on the young minds around him, inspiring them to join the struggle for independence.

Hundreds of young men joined the organization, and Vihāri, a Marathi weekly, became its mouthpiece, with significant contributions from Savarkar. He urged his countrymen to reject everything English and to abstain from purchasing foreign goods. Inspired by his call to action, many students daringly organized bonfires of foreign clothes, with the largest one, supported and inspired by Lokmanya Tilak, occurring in Pune in November 1905. Consequently, disciplinary action was taken against young Vinayak by Wrangler Paranjape, who imposed a fine of ten rupees. This fine was easily collected by Savarkar’s friends, demonstrating their solidarity and support.

During this period, Mahatma Gandhi, then in South Africa, condemned the act of burning clothes—a stance he would paradoxically adopt fifteen years later

This irony often escapes contemporary discourse. Upon completing his Bachelor of Arts in 1905, Vinayak Savarkar, already a prominent figure in Pune’s revolutionary circles, decided to pursue higher education in London. With endorsements from Lokmanya Tilak and Shivrampant Mahadev Paranjpe, Savarkar applied for the famous Shivaji scholarship for advanced studies in England, departing in 1906. In a letter to Shyamji Krishna Verma, Tilak wrote:

This young man Savarkar is significant, and I recommend him for two reasons: firstly, his soul is imbued with an unwavering love for his motherland, and secondly, he possesses an impeccable character.

Savarkar also made a solemn declaration that he would dedicate himself solely to India’s independence and serve the nation with unwavering commitment. This declaration was subsequently sent to Shyamji Krishna Verma in London.

Going further, we shall delve into the events that unfolded during what Savarkar famously referred to as his time in London as śatrūcyā śibirāta शत्रूच्या शिबिरात, or “Inside the Enemy’s Camp.” in the next part of this series.

Authored by Sushant Gangoli. Published by Brhat.