Every year, 7 September is observed as Vande Mataram Day, commemorating the pivotal role of this iconic song in India’s struggle for independence. The date recalls the decision of the Indian National Congress (INC) in 1905 to adopt Vande Mataram at the height of the Swadeshi Movement against the Partition of Bengal. More than a…
In the late 19th century, India was a country simmering with tensions—political, religious, and cultural. The British colonial regime‘s policy of divide and rule had deepened communal divisions. Against this backdrop, a teenage Vinayak Damodar (Veer) Savarkar, growing up in the village of Bhagur near Nashik, encountered one of the first defining moments of his…
Independence Shadowed by Tragedy The Partition of India in 1947 was more than the birth of two nations — it was one of the largest human tragedies in recorded history. While millions celebrated independence, millions more faced death, displacement, and devastation. Few foresaw the coming storm as clearly as Vinayak Damodar (Veer) Savarkar. For years,…
In 1899, deep within the narrow lanes of Tilbhandeshwar, a sixteen-year-old schoolboy named Vinayak Damodar (Veer) Savarkar was quietly rewriting the script of India’s freedom struggle. While the Indian National Congress (INC) still pursued petitions and reform, Savarkar envisioned something far more daring — a secret society devoted to armed revolution. That vision took shape…
In the closing years of the 19th century, a sixteen-year-old Vinayak Damodar Savarkar ignited a spark of revolution by founding Mitra Mela in Nashik, Maharashtra. Conceived in 1899, the group was more than just a circle of friends—it was a secret society devoted to India’s absolute political independence from British rule. Inspired by Mazzini’s Young…
Among the many revolutionary groups that contributed to India’s independence struggle, Vinayak Damodar Savarkar’s Varnasena—also known as the “Monkey Brigade”—stands out as a unique and lesser-known force. Comprising primarily of young boys and teenagers, this covert group played a vital supporting role in the anti-colonial resistance of the early 20th century. Mythology Meets Revolution Inspired…
From clandestine arms smuggling to guerrilla warfare – how Savarkar’s secret society laid the groundwork for a militant nationalist uprising. Vinayak Damodar Savarkar understood a critical truth of political struggle: words alone – no matter how passionate or persuasive – are powerless without action. To that end, he moved beyond fiery speeches and writings, crafting…