Vinayak Damodar Savarkar

In News: The national memorial and museum dedicated to Mahatma Gandhi – Gandhi Smriti and Darshan Samiti’s (GSDS) has brought out a special edition of its monthly magazine dedicated to V D Savarkar.

Veer Savarkar

• Born on 28th May, 1883 in Bhagur, a village near Nashik in Maharashtra.
• He studied in Fergusson College, Pune.
• He was inspired by leaders like Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Lala Lajpat Rai and Bipin Chandra Pal. He was also influenced by the protests against the partition of Bengal and the Swadeshi movement.
• He was a staunch patriot and was attracted to radical views and movements.

Trial and Sentences:

• Arrested in 1909 on charges of plotting an armed revolt against the Morley-Minto reform (Indian Councils Act 1909)
• Arrested in 1910 for his connections with the revolutionary group India House
• One of the charges on Savarkar was abetment to murder of Nashik Collector Jackson and the second was waging a conspiracy under Indian Penal Code 121-A against the King emperor
• Following the two trials, Savarkar was convicted and sentenced to 50-years imprisonment also known as Kala Pani and transported in 1911 to the Cellular Jail in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
• Death: He died on 26th February 1966 due to fasting on his own wish of death.

Contribution and Works

• Founded a secret society called Abhinav Bharat Society
• Went to the United Kingdom and was involved with organizations such as India House and soon founded the Free India Society, based on the thoughts of the Italian nationalist Giuseppe Mazzini
• He was the president of Hindu Mahasabha from 1937 to 1943.
• Savarkar wrote a book titled ‘The History of the War of Indian Independence’ in which he wrote about the guerilla warfare tricks used in 1857 Sepoy Mutiny.
• He also wrote the book ‘Hindutva: who is hindu?’

Abhinav Bharat Society (Young India Society)

• It was a secret society founded by Vinayak Damodar Savarkar and his brother Ganesh Damodar Savarkar in 1904.
• Initially founded at Nasik as Mitra Mela, the society was associated with several revolutionaries and political activists with branches in various parts of India and London.

Hindu Mahasabha

• Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha is one of the oldest organizations of India as it was formed in 1907.
• The Eminent personalities who founded this Organisation and who presided over the ALL INDIA Sessions held include Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya, Lal Lajpat Rai, Veer Vinayak Damodar Savarkar,

Gandhi Smriti and Darshan Samiti (GSDS)

• GSDS was formed in September 1984 by the merger of Gandhi Darshan at Rajghat and Gandhi Smriti at 5 Tees January Marg as an autonomous body.
• It functions under the constructive advice and financial support from the Ministry of Culture, Government of India.
• The Prime Minister of India is its chairperson and it has a nominated body of senior Gandhians and representatives of various government departments to guide it in its activities.
• The basic aim and objective of the Samiti are to propagate the life, mission and thought of Mahatma Gandhi through various socio-educational and cultural programmes.

Source: The Hindu

Previous Year Question

Q.1) Annie Besant was (2013)

1. responsible for starting the Home Rule Movement.
2. the founder of the Theosophical Society.
3. once the President of the Indian National Congress.

Select the correct statement/statements using the codes given below.

1. 1 only
2. 2 and 3 only
3. 1 and 3 only
4. 1, 2 and 3