Today is the birth anniversary of Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, the firebrand revolutionary who championed India’s fight for Independence, paid its price by inflicting perhaps the cruellest of all sufferings at Kala Pani but nevertheless continued to inspire and galvanise youngsters to join India’s fight against colonial and imperial rule. Madan Lal Dhingra who assassinated Curzon Wylie in London, Anant Laxman Kanhere who assassinated the district collector of Nagpur or Bhagat Singh who was responsible for throwing bombs in Central Legislative Assembly in Delhi were inspired by Veer Savarkar.
Of these figures, the link between Savarkar and Bhagat Singh holds a special significance. This piece explores the common threads that connected these two iconic revolutionaries.
1857 India’s First War of Independence: Link between Savarkar and Singh
Perhaps the clearest link between Savarkar and Singh was the former’s powerful book, The Indian War of Independence 1857 which changed the narrative of 1857 from just a sepoy mutiny to being considered as India’s first true war for freedom. Bhagat Singh saw the book’s potential to ignite passion and risked a great deal to get it published and shared among revolutionaries. The book was banned by the British but went on to become a vital book, shaping how the new generation viewed their history and their mission. The book also made it to the prerequisite mandatory readings of Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA). It wasn’t just Bhagat Singh who was impressed with the work, but the likes of Rash Bihari Bose and Subhash Chandra Bose also got the book reprinted.
Early Internationalists
While revolutionaries are often perceived merely as men of action, it’s striking that both Savarkar and Bhagat Singh powerfully defied this notion; they were, in sharp contrast, formidable intellectuals and voracious readers
Savarkar and Bhagat Singh had a good understanding of the world, knowing well that India’s struggle had international dimensions. Savarkar had already translated Joseph Mazzini’s autobiography in Marathi. Savarkar’s years in London were marked by an attempt to create an international network for India’s cause. He actively sought out fellow revolutionaries – Irish, Russian, you name it – sharing ideas, absorbing tactics, and fighting to make India’s voice heard. He was ready to explore any path that might lead to liberation. It is believed that it was during this time that Savarkar met Vladimir Lenin at India House. Decades later, Bhagat Singh, who read a lot, found great motivation in movements around the world. He read about Marx and Lenin, admired the Irish struggle, and looked up to the Russian Revolution. He saw India’s goal not only as national freedom, but also as part of a bigger global fight against oppression, and imperialism.
Shared Vision, Shared Mission
Both men knew that freedom wouldn’t simply be given; it had to be won. Savarkar’s Abhinav Bharat Society was one of the first secret networks built for bringing together the youth for an armed struggle. It drew lessons from European revolutionaries and worked to bring arms and revolutionary literature into India, laying crucial groundwork. Years later, Bhagat Singh and the HSRA followed a similar path, using direct action to shock the British and inspire the Indian people. Both Savarkar and Bhagat Singh did what they could do supply firearms, ammunitions and manuals to make bombs to fellow revolutionaries.
Of course, their final dreams for India were also same. Both men dreamt of an Independent India which stood on the pillars of Equality, Justice and Secularism and they were ready to go to any extent and at any cost to achieve it. Both believed that non-violence wasn’t the only way and chose violence over non-violence.
Beyond the Prison Walls: Suffering and Strength
For their beliefs, both men paid a heavy price in the harsh prisons. 28-year old Savarkar was sentenced two life terms (of 25 years each). His long and terrible years at the Cellular Jail at Andaman also known as Kala Pani are vividly described in his book My Transportation for Life. During his 11 year stay at Kala Pani, the Guantanamo Bay of the British, he faced inhuman torture and atrocities, but that didn’t deter him from seeking prison reforms and petitioning the government for seeking they should be treated as political prisoners and not criminals along with starting a secret school for prisoners and a library called Nalanda Vihar.
Bhagat Singh, too, is famously remembered for his historic hunger strike at the Mianwali Jail in 1929 which lasted for 112 days. His demand was more than just better food. It was a demand for respect and recognition for the political prisoners along with seeking access to books and writing material for intellectual stimulation just like Savarkar. His resolve during this time inspired people across India. Even though they were in pain, Savarkar and Singh refused to give up. This showed that they were devoted and that their souls could not be locked up.
When Bhagat Singh addressed Savarkar as “Veer”
In a 1924 Bhagat Singh wrote a piece for the journal Matwala, under the pen name, Balwant Singh. In this piece, he praised Savarkar, calling him a “Veer” (braveheart) and wrote, “The one who loves this world is that braveheart, whom we don’t feel ashamed to call as a fierce insurgent and a fanatic anarchist — this is the Veer (brave) Savarkar.”
In conclusion, the links between Veer Savarkar and Bhagat Singh are far more than historical footnotes; they represent a deep, ideological, and spiritual connection in India’s revolutionary struggle. Savarkar’s life and work provided a blueprint for revolutionary action – a narrative of defiance with 1857, a global perspective, a commitment to armed struggle, and an example of enduring hardship with dignity without compromising on the goal of freedom. Bhagat Singh’s acknowledgement of Savarkar as ‘Veer’ wasn’t mere praise; it was an acceptance of a shared lineage of brotherhood, struggle and sacrifice. Both did not just dream of a free India but also fought for it, endured unimaginable suffering for it, and left behind a powerful legacy of patriotism and resilience that undeniably shaped and inspired the actions and spirit of later revolutionaries just the way Bhagat Singh drew inspiration from Savarkar.
