CK Kumaravel, CEO and co-founder of the renowned salon chain “Naturals,” has faced severe criticism, and calls for its boycott gained momentum after he made disparaging comments about freedom fighter Veer Savarkar. His remarks, seen as derogatory and malicious, have drawn condemnation from patriotic circles and sparked outrage among supporters of Savarkar’s legacy.
Kumaravel, known for his vocal support of the Congress party and affiliation with actor Kamal Hassan’s Makkal Needhi Maiam, made the controversial remarks in response to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s challenge to I.N.D.I Alliance leaders to highlight Savarkar’s greatness in five sentences. Kumaravel’s response, however, took a sharply critical tone, casting aspersions on Savarkar’s character and contributions to India’s freedom struggle.
In his remarks, Kumaravel labelled Savarkar as a “coward,” accused him of being a co-conspirator in Mahatma Gandhi’s assassination, and alleged that he was proficient in writing mercy petitions. He also made unsubstantiated claims about Savarkar’s involvement in influencing Nathuram Godse to assassinate Gandhi, further denigrating Savarkar’s legacy.
The CEO’s comments have elicited strong condemnation from various quarters, with critics accusing him of spreading ill-willed and false allegations against a nationalist freedom fighter who endured immense hardships at the hands of the British Raj, including solitary confinement in the Andaman cells.
The controversy escalated after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent challenge to the I.N.D.I Alliance leaders, urging Congressmen to speak five sentences highlighting the greatness of Veer Savarkar.
https://twitter.com/AmmU_MaanU/status/1791696022475039124
Responding to this challenge, Kumaravel made provocative remarks, casting aspersions on Savarkar’s character and legacy. CK Kumaravel, in response to PM Narendra Modi’s call for to speak five sentences highlighting the greatness of Veer Savarkar, stated, “ 1. #VeerSavarkar is a coward. 2. He is a co-conspirator in Gandhi’s assassination 3. He is an expert in writing #MercyPetitions 4. He brainwashed the mentally ill #Godse in killing #Gandhi 5. There is nothing veer in him except his name 6. A #Hindutva Maniac #RSS – #BJP mafia”
1. #VeerSavarkar is a coward
2. He is a co-conspirator in Gandhi’s assassination
3. He is an expert in writing #MercyPetitions
4. He brainwashed the mentally ill #Godse in killing #Gandhi
5. There is nothing veer in him except his name
6. A #Hindutva Maniac #RSS – #BJP mafia https://t.co/780Z1wTnmu— CK Kumaravel (@ckknaturals) May 16, 2024
Kumaravel’s comments have sparked outrage among supporters of Veer Savarkar and nationalist groups, who view his remarks as disrespectful and defamatory towards a prominent figure in India’s independence movement. Calls for boycotting Naturals salons have gained traction on social media platforms, with many expressing their displeasure and vowing to boycott the chain until Kumaravel issues an apology.
CK Kumaravel’s attempt to narrate a half-baked story about Veer Savarkar reflects a common yet regrettable trend often seen among historians influenced by the Nehruvian perspective. In Tamil Nadu, the sacrifices of native born freedom fighters were never thought about or documented in schools. But during Amrit Kal utsav, as part of the unsung heroes, efforts were made to popularise them in various forms, which bore fruit.
Not only Kumaravel, but even Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, has resorted to insulting Savarkar, Shivaji Maharaj, and others. He faced a defamation case; interestingly, has also previously issued two unconditional apologies to the Supreme Court for his derogatory remarks about the leader.
It seems, the sinister mudslinging campaign to malign Savarkar regarding Mahatma Gandhi’s assassination, despite evidence proving his innocence, and other freedom fighters whom Nehru had grudges. This evidence indicates that Savarkar opposed the anarchist methods of Nathuram Godse and Narayan Apte, Gandhi’s assassins, and their followers in the Hindu Mahasabha. Despite Savarkar’s acquittal in the case, he has been tarnished by Congress, leftists, and Dravidians, accusing him of a crime he didn’t commit.
Before Partition, said to be a blunder in the annals of Bharat history, Godse, a Hindu Mahasabha member, frequently criticised Savarkar and senior leaders like Dr. Syama Prasad Mukherjee, B.S. Munje, and L.N. Bhopatkar for their passive stance against the Congress and Gandhi, highlighting internal conflicts rather than collusion.
Savarkar consistently favoured legal and political options over anarchist methods in his speeches and writings. B.R. Ambedkar privately supported Savarkar during the trial, believing the case against him was weak. Despite ideological differences, Savarkar showed personal respect for Gandhi. Congress and other opponents continuously maligned Savarkar, saying he “wrote mercy petitions to the British and accepted a pension.
Rahul Gandhi had also made this comment in 2022. But historians and experts deny their version. Particularly, Vaibhav Purandare, author of ‘Savarkar: The True Story of the Father of Hindutva‘, clarified to the BBC in 2019 that “both allegations are untrue. Savarkar did write petitions for clemency and never denied doing so.” Vikram Sampath, who authored a two-part biography of Savarkar titled ‘Echoes from a Forgotten Past, 1883-1924’ and ‘A Contested Legacy, 1924-1966′, explained to India Today in October 2021 that Savarkar’s petitions were requests for better prison conditions and early release, not “mercy” petitions.
But the Congress camp has suddenly taken up this issue through one of its supporters. Knowing well that the party will not even have the seats to qualify for recognised opposition in Lok Sabha, making such diatribes against famous freedom fighters unknowingly will boomerang on them. Now netizens are making appeals to Hindus, patriotic citizens to boycott Kumaravel’s salon. One said there was no such need as it was already a flop business.
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