Reform, Resistance, and the Power of the Pen
Category 1: Non-(Party-)Political Literature
Vinayak Damodar Savarkar was not just a revolutionary, thinker, and political activist; he was also a prolific writer who used literature as a powerful tool for reform and resistance. His engagement with prose and poetry can be divided into three distinct phases: his study years in London, his imprisonment in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and his house arrest in Ratnagiri. His literary works were instrumental in shaping his ideological vision, particularly in his crusade against social inequalities in Hindu society and his nationalist aspirations for India.
Early Literary Pursuits
Savarkar’s literary journey began at an early age. By the age of ten, he was already composing poetry and prose. His first major successes came in essay competitions as a teenager, including Who is the Greatest Among the Peshwas? and Why We Should Celebrate the Birth Anniversaries of Great Figures in India. These essays explored the qualities of great leaders and emphasized the importance of commemorating historical figures for national inspiration. Though these early writings were not explicitly political, they laid the foundation for his later ideological pursuits.
The London Years: Poetry and Revolution
During his time in London, Savarkar wrote several pamphlets aimed at inspiring revolutionary fervor among his compatriots. One of his most famous works from this period is the poem O’ Martyrs (1908), which celebrated the 1857 uprising against British rule and emphasized Hindu-Muslim unity in the fight for independence. This theme was later expanded in his seminal historical work, The Indian War of Independence 1857.
However, not all of his writings from this time were optimistic. After being expelled from India House, he fell into despair over the passive attitude of many Indians towards British rule. His poems Take Me O, Ocean and Choose, O Indian Princes criticized the Indian aristocracy for their collaboration with the British and urged them to support the nationalist movement. These writings were widely circulated as pamphlets and became rallying cries for revolutionaries.
His Marathi poem The Farewell, written after his arrest in London in 1910, remains an enduring testament to his patriotism, humanism, and sense of duty. It expresses gratitude to those who supported him and serves as a tribute to the martyrs who sacrificed their lives for India’s freedom.
Literature Behind Bars: The Andaman Years
Savarkar’s imprisonment in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands deprived him of conventional means to engage in literary activities. However, he continued to write covertly, smuggling poems off the island under the pseudonym “Kamala.” His letters to his family, later published as An Echo from Andamans, provided a rare glimpse into his thoughts and hardships during exile.
His most significant work from this period, The Story of My Transportation for Life (1926), offers a harrowing account of the inhumane prison conditions and British brutality. Interestingly, this work also marks a shift in his views on Hindu-Muslim unity, as he accused the British of using Muslim prison guards to oppress Hindu inmates. This phase of his writing reflects his evolving political thought and growing skepticism toward interfaith cooperation in the nationalist movement.
Post-Imprisonment Writings and Social Reform
Upon his release, Savarkar continued to use literature as a means of social and political commentary. His autobiography, Inside the Enemy Camp, details his years in London and the revolutionary activities of Indians abroad. Meanwhile, his plays Ushap (1927), Sanyasta Khadga (1929), and Uttarkriya (1934) focused on social reform and the consequences of historical events on Hindu society.
His poem Saptapadi outlines the seven stages of national development, emphasizing the need for Hindus to unite and overcome internal divisions. His historical work, Six Glorious Epochs of Indian History, seeks to correct perceived distortions in Indian history, such as the claim that Alexander the Great conquered India.
Literature as a Mission
Savarkar firmly believed that literature was not merely an artistic pursuit but a vehicle for political and social transformation. He advocated using writing to awaken nationalist sentiment and inspire action. This belief was evident in his speech at the Marathi Literary Conference in 1938, where he famously declared, “The country has enough poets; it now needs soldiers.” While this was not meant to be taken literally, it underscored his conviction that literature should serve the cause of national liberation.
Final Thoughts
Savarkar’s literary contributions extend far beyond poetry and prose. His writings encapsulate his evolution as a thinker, from advocating Hindu-Muslim unity in O’ Martyrs to later emphasizing Hindu consolidation in Six Glorious Epochs of Indian History. Whether through historical analysis, poetry, or drama, his literature was always deeply intertwined with his political mission. For Savarkar, the written word was not just a medium of expression but a weapon in the struggle for independence and social reform.
Sources:
KEER, Dhananjay. 1988. Veer Savarkar. Third Edition. (Second Edition: 1966). Popular Prakashan: Bombay (Mumbai).
KRÜGER, Horst. 1984. Indische Nationalisten und Weltproletariat. Der nationale Befreiungskampf in Indien und die Arbeiterbewegung vor 1914. Band I. Akademie Verlag: Berlin.
PHADTARE, T. C. 1975. Social and Political Thought of Shri V.D. Savarkar. A Thesis submitted to the Marathwada University for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy. Unpublished: Aurangabad.
SAVARKAR, Vinayak Damodar. 1950. The story of my transportation for life. Sadbhakti Publications: Bombay.
SAVARKAR, Vinayak Damodar. 1924. An Echo from Andamans. Vishvanath Vinayak Kelkar: Nagpur, in GROVER, Verinder. 1998. Vinayak Damodar Savarkar: A biography of his vision and ideas. Deep and Deep: Publications: New Delhi.