In the historiography of India’s struggle for independence, references typically focus on imprisonment, exile, or capital punishment as instruments of colonial repression. Less frequently noted, however, is the annulment of academic qualifications as a form of political sanction. The case of Vinayak Damodar (Veer) Savarkar (1883–1966) stands out in this regard: he became the first…
Among the circle of revolutionary young men who gathered around Vinayak Damodar (Veer) Savarkar at India House in London, one name shines with both tragedy and inspiration – Madan Lal Dhingra (1883–1909). His short life, ending at the gallows in Pentonville Prison, was deeply intertwined with Savarkar’s mentorship, ideas, and revolutionary vision. From Apolitical Student…
The dramatic London chapter of Vinayak Damodar (Veer) Savarkar’s life reached a decisive turning point in March 1910. On Sunday, 13 March 1910, Savarkar was arrested at Victoria Station while waiting for a train. For months, the British authorities had been keeping him under close surveillance, suspecting his involvement in revolutionary networks that had sprung…
On 9 June 1906, Vinayak Damodar (Veer) Savarkar departed Bombay aboard the S.S. Persia, embarking on a voyage that would decisively shape both his intellectual trajectory and his role in the Indian nationalist movement. While framed outwardly as a student’s pursuit of legal studies in England, the journey was imbued with deeper significance: it marked…