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    This book review summarizes a book titled "Savarkar: Myths and Facts" by Shamsul Islam that debunks many myths about Vinayak Damodar Savarkar. It discusses how Savarkar has been portrayed by right-wing Hindu groups as a revolutionary freedom fighter, but the book relies on Savarkar's own writings to show he was not involved in the independence movement and helped the British war efforts. Some key facts presented are that Savarkar spent only around 10 years imprisoned, unlike other revolutionaries, and sought clemency from the British after his imprisonment. The book also exposes myths around Savarkar's role in Gandhi's assassination and his views on untouchability

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    This book review summarizes a book titled "Savarkar: Myths and Facts" by Shamsul Islam that debunks many myths about Vinayak Damodar Savarkar. It discusses how Savarkar has been portrayed by right-wing Hindu groups as a revolutionary freedom fighter, but the book relies on Savarkar's own writings to show he was not involved in the independence movement and helped the British war efforts. Some key facts presented are that Savarkar spent only around 10 years imprisoned, unlike other revolutionaries, and sought clemency from the British after his imprisonment. The book also exposes myths around Savarkar's role in Gandhi's assassination and his views on untouchability

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    70 views3 pages

    Savarkar Myths and Facts Review of Shams

    Uploaded by

    Shah Drshann
    This book review summarizes a book titled "Savarkar: Myths and Facts" by Shamsul Islam that debunks many myths about Vinayak Damodar Savarkar. It discusses how Savarkar has been portrayed by right-wing Hindu groups as a revolutionary freedom fighter, but the book relies on Savarkar's own writings to show he was not involved in the independence movement and helped the British war efforts. Some key facts presented are that Savarkar spent only around 10 years imprisoned, unlike other revolutionaries, and sought clemency from the British after his imprisonment. The book also exposes myths around Savarkar's role in Gandhi's assassination and his views on untouchability

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    of 3

    (Book Reviewed-Savarkar: Myths and Facts by Shamsul Islam, Published by Media

    House, 375-A, Pocket 2Mayur Vihar Phase-I Delhi


    110091,[email protected], Pages-124, Price Rs. 120)

    During National Democratic Alliance rule, its leader BJP tried to


    project that Vinayak Damodar Savarkar was a revolutionary of
    extraordinary caliber and that his contribution has been ignored by
    the Congress so it has to be highlighted with vigor. It named the Port
    Blair airport in his name and it also put his portrait in the hall of
    Parliament. The word of mouth propaganda has been eulogizing him
    as the real Father of the Nation. Just before the Maharashtra
    Assembly elections a controversy erupted around him. With the
    change of regime at the Center, the new Petroleum minister Mani
    Shankar Aiyer replaced his plaque at Andaman's with that of
    Mahatma Gandhi. This again became a matter of controversy, the
    BJP-Sena alliance tried to capitalize on this for the elections. In
    Maharashtra in particular, Savarkar has been projected as the brave
    (Veer) revolutionary and efforts have been made to show that he was the guiding figure for
    all the great Freedom fighters apart from being a progressive person of sorts. Even
    Congress, whose minister, Aiyer had taken the bold step of catching the bull by horns,
    shivered and said that Aiyer's views are his personal.

    The Maharashtra Congress going by the electoral compulsions said that Savarkar was a
    freedom fighter and is a respectable person for it. One also recalls the committee which
    cleared that Savarkar's portrait be unveiled in the hall of parliament, had some Communists
    leaders in it who did not protest against this proposal. Incidentally his close associate
    Nathuram Godse who murdered Gandhi, is currently being celebrated as a great nationalist
    by various Hindutva forces and a play praising him, "Me Nathuram Boltoy", (This is
    Nathuram speaking) has been a big hit in parts of Maharashtra and also is a favorite with
    the section of NRI's who have been flooding the RSS coffers with dollars to promote its
    divisive agenda.

    Many a social workers who have been evaluating Savarkar's role in an objective manner had
    to suffer the wrath of Savarkar's followers, including the intimidating things like their
    effigies being burnt. Aiyer's effigy was burnt as a warning. Many a myths have been
    manufactured around Savarkar. Though some scholars have done a remarkable job by
    publishing the facsimiles of letters written by Savarkar, while seeking his release from the
    prison, the complete evaluation of Savarkar, with impeccable evidence like the copies of his
    letters and extracts from his writings, has not been put forward in a popular way so far.
    Shamsul Islam, a Professor of political science from Delhi has filled this gap very aptly. This
    invaluable contribution to ongoing debate presents the true character of Savarkar in a
    holistic manner. Author has relied more on the writing of Savarkar to bring out the truth
    behind this 'pseudo legend'.

    It deals with various myths about him and shows that there was a major transformation in
    his life after being imprisoned in Andaman. He was an Anti-British revolutionary, till his
    imprisonment, who had talked about Hindu Muslim unity and had praised Bahadur Shah
    Jafar for leading Hindu Muslim kings in the anti British war of 1857; shortly after being
    imprisoned, he started seeking mercy from the British authorities with knees bent, in the
    most humiliating terms, like a total surrender.
    There are various myths which have by now become a matter of folklore in general and
    more so in Maharashtra, the place where the politics of Hindutva took an aggressive stance
    after the publication of his book 'Hindutva or who is a Hindu' by Savarkar and later by the
    formation of RSS, which took this book's formulation about Hindutva as the base of its
    divisive politics. The myth that he spent most of his life in cellular jail has no basis at all as
    factually he was there for around ten years after which he was transferred to Ratnagiri jail,
    from where he was released in 1924. It is noteworthy that while he is being praised for his
    bravery and suffering, many revolutionaries underwent suffered longer but unlike him did
    not buckle under the pressure of suffering. They are going unsung while Savarkar is
    adorning the hall of parliament. Savarkarites have manufactured the answer to it that he
    wanted to participate in the freedom struggle so he apologized to the British as a matter of
    'clever' tactic. Islam shows through Savarkar's writings that he did not participate in the
    freedom struggle after getting released and was critical of the national movement all
    through, to the extent of helping the British war efforts.

    It is here that the myth that he advised Subhash Chandra Bose to go to Japan to seek
    Japanese assistance to get freedom from British. This claim gets exposed when we realize
    that it is during this time that Bose is forming Azad Hind Fauz and fighting the British, while
    Savarkar is assisting the British in their war effort. Now a time has come for them to
    manufacture a new argument to 'praise' his greatness in simultaneously doing two
    contradictory things, if at all he was the advisor of Subhash Bose. He was a firm ally of
    British when they were repressing the National movement by brutal methods. The argument
    that he stood firmly against the Muslim league politics is again far from true. As matter of
    fact Hindu Mahasabha collaborated with Muslim League in formation of coalition ministries in
    Sind and Bengal, and Savarkar supported and appreciated this move of Hindu Mahasabha.

    As such collaboration with Muslim League is so 'logical' for Hindu mahasbaha as both of
    these parties are on the same wavelength of political ideology. Both of them hold on to
    religion based nationalism, that religion can be the base of nationalism, was inherent in
    their politics, both of them did not participate in the freedom movement and both these
    formations were derivatives of the political formations founded by landlords and kings of
    princely states. So the Muslim League-Hindu Mahasabha alliance is logical and not an
    aberration.

    The most interesting part of Savarkar's writings which is presented in the book is about the
    King of Nepal. This monarch of Hindu Rashtra of Nepal is perceived by Savarkar as the one
    who is the logical ruler of Hindus all over the world. One shivers with the idea that had
    Savarkar's politics succeeded, today we would have the 'proud privilege' of being ruled by a
    king who has killed his brother's entire family for power and has muzzled the democracy. It
    seems we have been spared this torture by the maturity of Indian people who not only
    rejected Hindutva politics during freedom struggle but have again spurned its 'Shining India
    gestures' during last parliament elections.

    His efforts to eradicate untouchability many a times are projected as being equal to those of
    Ambedkar. The contrast can never be worse. While Ambedkar burns Manusmriti Savarkar
    upholds this as the core rule book for Hindus. At one point he assures the sanatani Hindus
    that they should not worry about temple entry of Shudras as Hindu Mahasabha will not let
    the untouchables enter the temples and will not let them come in beyond a point at which
    non Hindus are shown the 'No Entry' board. The 'brilliance' of this strategy is beyond words.
    Dalits are Hindus but like the non-Hindus they will not be permitted to enter the "Laxman
    Rekha" drawn by Holy Scripture called Manu Smriti. So much for his rationalism!
    Role of Savarkar in Gandhi murder has been a matter of creation of another myth. Taking
    advantage of the fact that the court acquitted him in this case, it is being said that he was
    not a part of the conspiracy. As matter of fact, he was let off only because the charges were
    not corroborated. Kapoor commission pointed out that Savarkar was a part of the
    conspiracy while Sardar Patel also said similar thing in his letter.

    Well facts and truth are the first victims when politics based on emotions and myth rules the
    roost. The strength of the book lies in the fact that the author lets Savarkar speak for him,
    and has been written in the popular style of myths and facts. The book is full of interesting
    quotes and letters of Savarkar. It must have been a painstaking research to cull out these
    scattered writings to weave a complete picture. While very strong on facts and evidence
    Islam does not elaborate the ideological and political connections of Savarkar and his
    ideology. A suitable introduction would have enriched the worth of the book. Placing his
    ideology in the contemporary context would have broadened the visions of the readers.
    While the production of the book is overall satisfactory errors in copy editing are jarring to
    the reader. Overall shamsl Islam deserves appreciation for this much needed political
    intervention.

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