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This section contains the complete archive of The Whirlwind is a blog dedicated to the life, thought, and influence of Vinayak Damodar Savarkar. Each entry explores aspects of his political action, philosophical thinking, social reform efforts, historical interpretations, and cultural legacy. The blog aims to offer critical insights into Savarkar’s role in shaping modern Indian political and ideological discourse.
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Savarkar’s Perspective on Ahimsa and Himsa
Read more: Savarkar’s Perspective on Ahimsa and HimsaPolitical Dimension of Hindutva, Part 13 Introduction – A Justification of “Relative Violence” Violence and non-violence have long been central themes in Indian philosophical and political thought. Vinayak Damodar (Veer) Savarkar, a key proponent of Hindutva, presented a unique discourse on the subject, arguing for a pragmatic approach to violence—what he termed “just, relative violence.”…
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Savarkar’s Notion of Just, Relative Violence
Read more: Savarkar’s Notion of Just, Relative ViolencePolitical Dimension of Hindutva, Part 12 Introduction – Savarkar’s Radical Philosophy of Resistance Few statements in modern Indian political thought are as provocative as Vinayak Damodar (Veer) Savarkar’s declaration that relative non-violence is a virtue, absolute non-violence a crime. This concise yet explosive maxim captures the essence of Savarkar’s departure from the dominant ‘Gandhian ethos’…
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Savarkar and the Politics of Conversion
Read more: Savarkar and the Politics of ConversionSavarkar’s Philosophy & Worldview, Part 14 The Relationship Between Nation and Religion: Understanding Savarkar’s Perspective on Religious Conversions Religion and nationality have long been intertwined in the fabric of human societies, shaping identities, cultures, and political landscapes. Few thinkers have explored this relationship as provocatively as Vinayak Damodar (Veer) Savarkar who presented a unique perspective…
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Savarkar’s Vitthal Temple Entry Movement
Read more: Savarkar’s Vitthal Temple Entry MovementThe Vitthal Temple in Ratnagiri, located in Maharashtra’s Konkan region, became one of the most symbolically charged sites in early 20th-century Hindu social reform. Dedicated to Lord Vitthal (‘Vithoba’) – a form of Vishnu-Krishna revered as the deity of the common people – the temple held both religious and social significance for the local Hindu…
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Savarkar: Shivaji as Archetype of the Savior
Read more: Savarkar: Shivaji as Archetype of the SaviorSavarkar’s Coding of Hindutva; Metacode Rashtra, Part 10; Code Myth (3/20); Codeelement Shivaji and Pan-Hinduism (1/15) Myth and Nation The German cultural theorist Andreas Dörner once argued that the most powerful idea modern societies use to hold themselves together is the concept of the nation. Without it, no state can sustain a sense of unity.…
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When Savarkar Opened the Temple Doors
Read more: When Savarkar Opened the Temple DoorsSavarkar’s Struggle Against Untouchability, Part III In pre-colonial India, the caste system established a deeply entrenched hierarchy that confined individuals to rigid social categories. Among its harshest expressions was the exclusion of the so-called Untouchables from Hindu temples. The larger and wealthier the temple, the more uncompromising the restrictions. For centuries, such practices persisted unchallenged,…
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Savarkar’s Struggle for Mixed Schools
Read more: Savarkar’s Struggle for Mixed SchoolsSavarkar’s Struggle Against Untouchability, Part II Among the many aspects of Vinayak Damodar (Veer) Savarkar’s reformist thought, his campaign against untouchability stands out as a crucial yet often neglected chapter. During his confinement in Ratnagiri, Savarkar directed his intellectual and organisational energy toward addressing what he regarded as one of the gravest internal weaknesses of…
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Savarkar’s notion on Holy, Righteous War
Read more: Savarkar’s notion on Holy, Righteous WarPolitical Dimension of Hindutva, Part 11 The idea of a “holy war,” known as Dharma Yuddha, against the enemies of Hindutva – particularly non-Hindu occupiers of the land – was a fundamental principle shaping Vinayak Damodar (Veer) Savarkar from his early youth. He derived this concept from the Bhagavad Gita, which speaks of the divine…
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Savarkar & the Battle Against Untouchability
Read more: Savarkar & the Battle Against UntouchabilitySavarkar’s Struggle Against Untouchability, Part I Vinayak Damodar (Veer) Savarkar is often celebrated as one of India’s most fearless revolutionaries and intellectual architects of national liberation. Yet, beyond his political vision and militant struggle for independence, there lies another profound dimension of his legacy – his fight against untouchability. During his years of confinement in…
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Would Savarkar Celebrate Gandhi Jayanti?
Read more: Would Savarkar Celebrate Gandhi Jayanti?Every year on October 2, India observes Gandhi Jayanti, the birth anniversary of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi—revered as the Mahatma and remembered worldwide as an apostle of non-violence. Yet this day also invites a provocative question: if Vinayak Damodar (Veer) Savarkar were alive today, would he have commemorated Gandhi Jayanti? Respect Without Reverence It is conceivable…