Tag: Nationalism
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Political Dimension of Hindutva, Part 7 Vinayak Damodar (Veer) Savarkar’s political-religious vision is deeply rooted in an archaic worldview. A key element in his concept of an ideal governance structure for Hindus is the idea of “Hindu leadership through a strong hand.” This theme is recurrent throughout his writings, particularly through his admiration of the…
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Savarkar’s Philosophy & Worldview , Part 7; Savarkar’s Agnosticism, (3/4) In the ongoing exploration of Vinayak Damodar (Veer) Savarkar’s agnosticism, one of the most intriguing and misunderstood concepts is his use of the term Punyabhu or Punyabhumi, often translated as “Holy Land.” This term has sparked significant debate, with both critics and supporters often misinterpreting…
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Economic Dimension of Hindutva, Part 6; Savarkar’s Economic Principles (2/13) Vinayak Damodar (Veer) Savarkar was not just a political thinker and revolutionary; he was also a strong advocate for technological progress. At a time when Indian society was grappling with the impact of modernization, Savarkar made a passionate appeal to his compatriots to welcome the…
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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…
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In the closing years of the 19th century, when the Indian National Congress (INC) still placed its hopes in petitions and polite appeals, a young man from Chinchwad near Pune took a radically different path. Damodar Hari Chapekar became one of the first Indians in modern history to take up arms against British colonial authority…
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On the night of June 22, 1897, two British officials — Walter Charles (W.C.) Rand, Plague Commissioner of Pune, and Lieutenant Charles Egerton Ayerst, his military escort — were assassinated by Indian revolutionaries Damodar and Balkrishna Chapekar.The attack, carried out on Ganeshkhind Road (now Senapati Bapat Road), became one of the earliest and most symbolic…
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Social-Reformist Dimension of Hindutva, Part 8 The caste system has long been a subject of intense debate. While some have seen it as a stabilizing force in Indian society, others have condemned it as an oppressive and regressive institution. Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, a prominent Indian nationalist, falls squarely into the latter camp. His critique of…
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In 1897, Poona reeled under a brutal bubonic plague and even harsher British repression. To control the outbreak, British officials led by Collector Walter Rand enforced draconian measures – homes were raided, women harassed, and dignity trampled. While most of society watched in helpless silence, the Chapekar brothers – Damodar, Balakrishna, and Vasudev – chose…
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Economic Dimension of Hindutva, Part 3 The historical context of India’s colonial experience under British rule offers a complex narrative of economic distress, cultural shifts, and political movements. Among the Indian nationalists who fought against foreign domination, many turned to socialism as a potential solution to the severe economic challenges facing the nation. They believed…
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Economic Dimension of Hindutva, Part 2 The economic history of India under British colonial rule (British Raj) remains a subject of significant debate, especially when viewed through the lens of a nationalist perspective. Nationalists have long argued that British colonialism destroyed or severely deformed a flourishing pre-colonial Indian economy, which had been progressing smoothly before…