From Courtroom to Conscience: Savarkar Lives On

Poonam Sharma
When a court recently called the Congress party out for making unfounded charges against Veer Savarkar to further their political interests, it was not just a judicial correction — it was the reverberation of a larger historical consciousness. The judiciary’s reprimand was more than a call to remember fairness and fact — it reclaimed a long-suppressed national mind. It was as if time had spoken again: Savarkar means victory!
For decades, Veer Savarkar has been misrepresented by political opportunists who were afraid of the simplicity and forcefulness of his ideas. A revolutionary, philosopher, historian, poet, and patriot, Savarkar’s contributions to India’s freedom struggle and nation-building are unprecedented. But his name has repeatedly been unnecessarily dragged into controversy — tarred with calumny, banned from textbooks, and excluded from public discourse by those uneasy with his rambunctious nationalism.
But there is a rhythm of truth. It can be held back for a moment, but cannot be deleted. The recent observations by the court — that defaming Savarkar to garner votes is not only legally unsustainable but historically untruthful — are signs of a broader wave rushing over India. A wave that wants to rectify lies and accord justice not only in the courts of law but also in the pages of national history.
A Revolutionary Ahead Of His Time
Vinayak Damodar Savarkar was a man years ahead of his time. He was a young man when he lit a fire, which dreamt of complete independence from the British, not dominion status. His book “The First War of Indian Independence 1857” was the first one to identify the 1857 revolt as an integrated, nationalist struggle, whereas colonial historians referred to it as a mutiny. For this act alone, he was banished to the feared Cellular Jail in the Andamans.
But even the gloomy, stifling walls of Kalapani failed to dampen his spirit. Tortured and chained, Savarkar went on writing, inspiring. His dedication to Swarajya (self-governance) and Swadharma (self-identity) became beacons for generations to come. Gandhi might have espoused non-violence; Savarkar had the courage to utter that at times, the sword had to be unsheathed in order to defend Dharma.
Demonization by Savarkar’s Political Opponents
As a result, why has this towering figure been demonized?
The reason is ideological warfare. Savarkar believed that there should be a strong, unflinching Hindu nationalism — one that united India on a cultural, religious, and strategic plane. This was essentially incompatible with the post-Independence ideology of the Congress, which espoused secularism that increasingly battled for selective appeasement.
To discredit Savarkar, political forces resorted to half-truths. They accused him of being complicit in Mahatma Gandhi’s assassination — a charge the courts themselves dismissed. Yet, every election season, the same slanders were dusted off and paraded as political ammunition. Savarkar, a man who spent years in solitary confinement for the nation, was ironically portrayed as anti-national.
It is against this backdrop that the court’s remark acquires meaning. When the judiciary admonishes political parties for maligning national heroes for political mileage, it is not merely imposing legal limits — it is re-establishing moral ones.
The Historical Correction
India is undergoing a historical reawakening. Statues once broken are being rebuilt. Heroes once hidden are being remembered. Whether it is the revamp of the Kartavya Path in Delhi, the renaming of islands in Andaman after revolutionary heroes, or the mainstreaming of Savarkar’s literature — the signs are unmistakable.
This is not about vengeance. It is about balance.
India’s history of freedom was painted with a narrow brush for far too long — depicting almost solely non-violence, negotiation, and a few chosen Congress workers. The reality is more and richer. Bhagat Singh, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, Rani Lakshmibai, and Veer Savarkar were all key players. Not to recognize them is not just unfair — it is anti-patriotic.
Why Savarkar Still Matters
More than 50 years after his death, Savarkar continues to shape the ideological debates of modern India. His views on national security, cultural unity, and civilizational pride are more relevant today than ever.
He cautioned against appeasement of religion. He promoted the Uniform Civil Code. He contended that no country can ever be sovereign unless its citizens share a common cultural identity — not religious homogeneity, perhaps, but acknowledgment of civilizational unity. These are not extreme views; they are bedrock.
In the world today, which is both globalized and fragmented, where identity politics can potentially divide nations, Savarkar’s call of Rashtra Dharma — nation first — is like a clarion call for unity.
A Symbol of National Resolve
When India is insulted or threatened abroad, when the troops guard the border, when a young startup entrepreneur enters global markets — somewhere, in the blaze in their eyes, is the spark of Savarkar. That intense determination. That relentless conviction that India is not merely a land, but a living, breathing notion of greatness.
That is why his legacy has to be defended — not only from calumny, but from oblivion.
A Call to Future Generations
This is not only a legal triumph. It is a moral one.
When the court chastises lies against Savarkar, it gives back to each Indian a shred of pride who stands for truth, courage, and freedom. It reminds us again that national heroes are not punching bags for fleeting politics. They are the backbone of our shared narrative.
Young India should read Savarkar. Argue with him. Get to know him. Agree or disagree — but never ignore.
For he is not merely a page in history. He is a mirror before which India beholds its most rebellious, its most dignified, and its most resolute self.