Tag: Savarkar
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Political Dimension of Hindutva, Part 6 The Concept of “Responsive Resistance” Vinayak Damodar Savarkar was deeply influenced by the idea of “Responsive Resistance,” a term coined by Bal Gangadhar Tilak. This concept proposed that Indian cooperation with British colonial rule should be directly proportional to the level of political reforms granted by the British. More…
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Savarkar’s Philosophy & Worldview, Part 6; Savarkar’s Agnosticism, (3/4) In the ongoing exploration of Vinayak Damodar Savarkar’s ideological framework, his views on the relationship between religion and politics offer a compelling lens through which to understand his agnosticism. While Hinduism undeniably played a central role in Savarkar’s thinking, it was not rooted in spiritual devotion…
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As soon as Vinayak Damodar Savarkar established himself in London, he founded the Free India Society in 1906. The organization became a crucible of revolutionary thought and action at the heart of the British Empire. Publicly open but ideologically radical, the Society was modeled after Giuseppe Mazzini’s Young Italy and served as the overseas face…
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In 1904, a young Vinayak Damodar Savarkar stood solemnly before a portrait of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, and proposed a bold and electrifying idea. He renamed his earlier organization, Mitra Mela, to Abhinav Bharat – meaning “New India” – a title that soon echoed as a threat in the corridors of British power, not just in…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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One night, in the town of Bhagur, a boy stood before a statue of the armed Goddess Durga. This boy was Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, and the vow he took that night would ignite a revolutionary desire to stand up against British colonial rule in India. The immediate spark was the execution of the Chapekar brothers…
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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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In 1905, being in his early twenties, Vinayak Damodar (Veer) Savarkar emerged as a fiery student leader in Poona, galvanizing youth against British imperialism. A staunch proponent of Swadeshi, Savarkar saw the boycott of foreign goods as the moral counterpart to the political opposition to the Partition of Bengal by Viceroy Lord Curzon planned to…