Long years of Congress domination have denied any major recognition to the likes of Veer Savarkar and Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. The BJP in Maharashtra in 2019 polls had pledged to try to get the highest civilian award for Savarkar.
New Delhi: Stating that Veer Vinayak Damodar Savarkar was above any recognition or even Bharat Ratna, Central Information Commissioner Uday Mahurkar said on Sunday (November 28) that "the Savarkar era has already begun in India."
The author of the book, 'Veer Savarkar: The Man Who Could Have Prevented Partition', Mr Mahurkar, made the remarks to a journalist in Indore where he participated at the Indore Literature Festival.
"I feel Savarkar (stature) is above Bharat Ratna. If he gets the award it is fine. But even if he does not get this award, that won't affect his stature as the Savarkar era has already begun in India," Mahurkar has been quoted as saying by a news agency.
During the day, Kerala Governor Arif Mohammad Khan released the book at Kochi. Speaking on occasion, the Governor said, "Those opposing Savarkar should not forget that he was a revolutionary". He also said Veer Savarkar had spoken about untouchability before Mahatma Gandhi.
A social media message also said Mr Khan, Union Civil Aviation Minister under V P Singh, also said, "One may differ with Savarkar. But for that one should first read Savarkar. However, after reading him it will be difficult for any one to differ with Savarkar."
The BJP, in its manifesto for the Maharashtra Assembly polls in 2019, had stated that it would recommend Veer Savarkar's name to the Centre for the highest civilian award if the saffron party returned to power. Savarkar is credited for giving a powerful socio-political weightage to the term "Hindutva".
According to Savarkar, Hindus consider India to be the land in which their ancestors lived and the land in which their tradition, religion and culture originated.
