Savarkar’s Petitions: The Double Standards of Savarkar-Bashers

Posted on by Anurupa

“Hindusthan, our very own Motherland!

To us Hindus she is everything,

Our life and our very soul.”

- V. D. Savarkar, Amucha Swadesh Hindusthan (Hindustan, Our Motherland)

Hi, Everyone! Savarkar-bashers write of Savarkar’s petitions as if they are some dirty secrets that they have exposed—for dramatic effect, I suppose. For most certainly they were neither “dirty” not secret! Savarkar himself has written all about his various petitions, even given a gist of some of them in his My Transportation for Life which was first published in 1927.

· Savarkar-bashers also use quotes from these petitions to bolster their claim that Savarkar sacrificed India and became a British loyalist.

Since Savarkar’s openly avowed precept is that in the freedom struggle petitions and pledges made to the enemy (the British in this case) when incarcerated are not binding. No patriot of India was honor bound to follow their dictates.

As such, it is ridiculous to brandish any quotes praising the British from his petitions as proof. Savarkar’s petitions were made under duress—of being incarcerated—and can certainly not be considered as a free and willing expression of Savarkar’s sentiments.

· And Savarkar’s actions before, during, and after writing these petitions are a testament of his patriotism, his devotion, and his dedication to the cause of India’s freedom.

I consider this act of besmirching the character of such a fine, upstanding freedom fighter as Savarkar a dastardly act.

But for a moment I shall put aside the view that Savarkar-bashers are doing this from some base desire to throw mud at Savarkar and unjustly shred his reputation as a freedom fighter and a man.

· For a moment, I shall consider that these Savarkar-bashers are genuinely stirred to horror by any freedom fighter who utters a praise of the British.

In that case, though, they should be equally vociferous in denouncing other freedom fighters. Yet one doesn’t hear a peep out of them even in mild reproof of Gandhi—who is the honorary “Father of the Nation,” who popularly is supposed to have won India her freedom—and his oft-declared loyalty to the British and evidence of intimacy and familiarity with the Viceroys and other British officials.

Here are some telling examples:

· Here is a Gandhi-quote begging to support the resolution in the War Conference of Viceroy Lord Chelmsford.

“So I attended the Conference. The Viceroy was very keen on my supporting the resolution about recruiting. . . . I had no speech to make. I spoke but one sentence to this effect,

‘With a full sense of my responsibility, I beg to support the resolution.’” Vide An Autobiography, Part V; Ch. XXVII.

· Gandhi’s letter to the Viceroy Chelmsford written in 1918.

“If I could make my countrymen retrace their steps, I would make them withdraw all the Congress resolutions, and not whisper ‘Home Rule’ or ‘Responsible Government’ during the pendency of the war. I would make India offer all her able-bodied sons as a sacrifice to the Empire at its critical moment　.　.　.

I write this, because I love the English Nation, and I wish to evoke in every Indian the loyalty of the Englishman.

I remain,

Your Excellency’s faithful servant,

M. K. GANDHI”[1]

· Gandhi’s speech for recruiting Indians in WWI

“‘Recruits whom we would raise would be Home Rulers. They would go to fight for the Empire; but they would so fight because they aspire to become partners in it.’

The Bombay Chronicle, 17-6-1918″

· On January 5, 1922—beforethe Noncooperation movement supposedly aiming for freedom was called off—Gandhi said in his magazine Young India:

“It will be unlawful for us to insist on independence. For it will be vindictive and petulant. It will be a denial of God.”

· Just before Gandhi embarked on his Salt Satyagraha, in 1930, he wrote a letter to Viceroy Lord Irwin. The letter was addressed and signed in this peculiar manner. (Gandhi has written other official letters to various Viceroys also addressed in this unseemly manner.)

“Dear friend,

God willing, it is my intention . . .

I am,

Your sincere friend,

M. K. Gandhi

(Read full letter here:
http://www.mkgandhi.org/Selected%20Letters/Selected%20Letters1/letter7.htm)

Also, Viceroy Linlithgow records that Sastri told him of a conversation with Gandhi in which “He had said to Gandhi: ‘If you see the Viceroy I guarantee you will come out a conquered man and you will be his man henceforth,’ to which Gandhi had replied: ‘I wish to be conquered.’”[2]

· Gandhi’s reply to Viceroy Linlithgow in 1939:

“I have great regard for you. I feel there is a sympathetic bond between us. I feel, too, that I should rely on your honour . . .”[3]

There are so many more such Gandhi-quotes and references available.

·Why is there no uproar over them?

I shall now point out a couple of shockers of Jawaharlal Nehru, first Prime Minister of India.

· Free India’s first Prime Minister thinks of his himself as an “Englishman”!!

A little snippet from an interview of John Kenneth Galbraith by Arun Venugopal:

“While the pace of his day has slowed down, John Kenneth Galbraith’s mind remains vibrant and unrelenting. He also talks of his close friendship with Nehru, who figures in his book Name-Dropping.

‘You realise, Galbraith,’ Nehru had once told him, ‘I am the last Englishman to rule in India.’“

Read the whole interview

http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?212952

· Not only this, but Nehru’s affair with Lady Mountbatten certainly disqualified him from being eligible as a Prime Minister. The first Prime Minister of free India carrying on a clandestine affair with a married member of the British royalty　.　.　.　![4]

So why has a curtain been dropped on all these (and more) genuine skeletons rattling about in the Congress closets—and why instead is Savarkar being vilified on unfounded facts?

Anurupa

[1] Viceroy’s April 29, 1918, letter.

[2] Viceroy’s April 29, 1918, letter.

[3] Viceroy’s April 29, 1918, letter.

[4] There is documentation available for this. I intend to write a separate series on this topic in my blog. Read Indian Summer by Alex Von Tunzelmann for more.

The Truth re Savarkar’s “Mercy” Petitions, Part II

Posted on by Anurupa

“O beautiful Hindusthan! Our very soul you are!

O beloved Hindusthan, the most delightful one of all you are! . . .

You are our Holy land! Our Father land!

Our Honor and our Pride!

- V. D. Savarkar, Priyakar Hindusthan (Beloved Hindustan)

Hi, Everyone! Savarkar never advocated the jail-going policy for any freedom fighter. He considered it a duty of every patriot unlucky enough to find himself in jail to free himself posthaste by resorting to any available means. Naturally, when incarcerated in the Cellular Jail, he himself assiduously carried out this duty—by the only way available to him: petitioning.

All his life Savarkar, like a true Karmayogi, only followed the path of his duty without any thought to personal gain. He never sacrificed his principles; he never ever, even for a moment, sacrificed his beloved motherland. Anyone who takes the trouble to read what Savarkar has recorded of himself and India’s history—without being blinded by the maligning rhetoric—will see the truth of this.

I don’t consider myself a person of extraordinary intellect. So if I can see the truth of Savarkar so plainly, why can’t the many anti-Savarkar propagandists who are so vociferously denigrating him do so? I can even understand—though not condone—the injustice to Savarkar that happened in historical times. But why does it continue till today?

· What powerful ulterior motive is operating this anti-Savarkar propaganda?

It is most shameful that there are so many Indian leaders, magazines, authors, and prominent personalities concentrating their energies in unjustly smashing to smithereens the pristine character and reputation of one of the foremost freedom fighters of India.

It is most shameful that Indians are allowing such a thing to happen.

In the last three posts, I have put before you justification of Savarkar’s petitions. Savarkar’s reasons for his petitions are entirely consistent with his principles, his strategies, and his unparalleled love for his motherland. Through his horrendous incarceration in the Cellular Jail, and indeed all his life, Savarkar’s every thought and deed was for the good of his country.

· But I ask you: if it were not so. If Savarkar made his petitions only to be free, or only to have a slightly less arduous hardship while incarcerated would that be any reason to rip his reputation and character to shreds?

Would these holier-than-thou anti-Savarkar propagandists suffer a fraction of what Savarkar suffered and not be turned into sniveling cowards?

· Would they have left the safety of Paris and returned to London to face the wrath of the British just to set an example to the other revolutionaries?

· Would they have the guts to execute the daring escape at Marseilles?

· Would they have remained uncrushed at being kidnapped by the British officers and hustled back aboard the SS Morea to a horrendous fate?

· Would they have faced with equanimity the fifty-year sentence of transportation imposed after another round of unjust and contrived trials?

· Would they have survived the solitary isolation of the Cellular Jail?

· Would they have survived being yoked to the oil mill there?

· Would they have survived the beatings, the insults, the hard labor, the atrocious hygiene?

No they would not!

And so, even if they could not grasp the extraordinary character of Savarkar, even if understanding his burning passion to free his motherland and all that it drove him to do was beyond them—they should never have dared point callous and unfeeling fingers of aspersions toward Savarkar.

Savarkar suffered all of the above and yet not one iota of his passion to free his country was dimmed. Under the most abject and horrendous circumstances, despite the very many injustices heaped upon him, he prevailed.

Detractors will do what they will do. But I do hope, readers, that you will not blindly swallow their vituperation of Savarkar.

Anurupa

The Truth re Savarkar’s “Mercy” Petitions

Posted on by Anurupa

“My body as sacrifice in the blazing fire I offer,

T’is but a first installment of this debt!

Over and over in every lifetime, give this body I will,

Into the holy pyre of your liberation.”

- V. D. Savarkar, Pahila Hapta (First Installment)

Hi, Everyone! In the last couple of posts I gave a look-see into Savarkar’s beliefs re petitions and pledges. It certainly gives irrefutable justification for any petition Savarkar made.

But the point I want to make in this post (and the next) is that—even if such undeniable justification did not exist—there is nothing demeaning or improper in Savarkar’s petitions to the Andaman authorities.

I have deliberately used the words “Savarkar’s ‘Mercy’ Petitions” in the title of this post. Savarkar’s detractors have brandished these words year after year until the facts and Savarkar’s character have been distorted beyond recognition.

The words “Mercy Petition” put together so seem to lend credence to the claim that Savarkar was begging for forgiveness and compassion. But it is no more than a clever wielding of words by his detractors.

· In actual fact, Savarkar’s petition was a perfectly normal and clever legal maneuver he made use of to try to gain freedom.

What is the definition of “petition”?

· It is “a formally drawn request that is addressed to a person or group of persons in authority: a petition for clemency; a petition for the repeal of an unfair law.”

In Andaman, the only way to communicate with the authority—with any hope of being heeded—was by way of petitioning.

The justification of using the word “mercy,” is given by quoting Sir Reginald Craddock’s words, “Savarkar’s petition is one of mercy.” A closer look at Craddock’s statement makes it quite clear that Craddock is using the word “mercy” to classify Savarkar’s petition (as opposed to the petitions of the other four political prisoners being more in the form of complaints.)

What does the word “mercy” mean here?

· It is “the discretionary power of a judge to pardon someone or to mitigate punishment.”

It is in this capacity that Craddock has used the word “mercy.” His entire report makes it quite clear that there was very little of “begging for forgiveness” or anything like it in Savarkar’s petition or demeanor. Check what Craddock’s next sentence is:

“Savarkar’s petition is one of mercy. He cannot be said to express any regret or repentance, but he affects to have changed his views.”

The second sentence and particularly the word “affects” makes it crystal clear that Craddock did not for a second believe Savarkar meant a word he wrote in the petition. When taken out of context quotes can be very misleading. By using only the first sentence the Savarkar-bashers have misrepresented the truth.

In actual fact, Savarkar’s petition is drawn up simply and concisely giving just arguments. There is no undue praise of the British, nor are there any avowals of loyalty. The language used is what was generally used to draw up formal petitions. On the link below, read Savarkar’s petition for yourself to see the truth of my words:

http://www.milligazette.com/Archives/2004/16-30Apr04-Print-Edition/1604200443.htm

But Savarkar-bashers have used the words “mercy” and “petition” with additional malicious words like “demeaning apologies and abject undertakings” thrown into the pot to create powerful—but erroneous—word pictures.

· Savarkar’s perfectly innocuous and normal petition has been given the cloak of “appealing, entreating, begging” etc. and from thence leading to accusations of Savarkar sacrificing his motherland and becoming loyal to the British.

If the readers do not bother to read Savarkar’s actual petition, they will believe the malicious spiel—spouted year after year—to be true.

And the anti-Savarkar propaganda thrives in this breeding-ground.

Anurupa

Savarkar and Petitions

Posted on by Anurupa

“O Mother, O Our Queen! Who will dare insult you?

Countless Sons you have to give up their very life for you!

To defend your honor and virtue, willingly die we shall!

Slash the enemy in battle,

And offer you a bath of blood we shall!

- V. D. Savarkar, Priyakar Hindusthan (Beloved Hindustan)

Hi, Everyone! Almost from the time he was brought to the Cellular Jail, Savarkar began petitioning to loosen the shackles that held him within its walls. Freedom lay only beyond its walls. But the Cellular Jail was a fortress impossible to escape from. The only way to get out was by the permission of the authorities—either by being allowed to work outside, or being transferred to the mainland jails, or any which way that worked. The only way to get permission of the authorities was to make petitions. And so Savarkar petitioned.

The need of the hour was great, very great, indeed. Savarkar, with his incredible political acumen, had predicted[1]a major war involving Britain in the near future. It was the ideal opportunity to stage a revolution. Savarkar was desperate to be free to organize this revolution that would set his beloved India free.

But the British were very much aware of Savarkar’s aspirations and his certain capabilities to see them through. So much so that here is an excerpt from the report drawn up by Craddock (upon reviewing Savarkar’s petition and after an interview with him) which makes it clear how important it was for the British to keep Savarkar’s wings clipped:

“In the case of Savarkar, it is impossible to give him any liberty here at all; so important a leader is he that the European section of the Indian anarchists will certainly organize his escape from any jail. Even from the island it is easy to escape; just charter a steamer and with plying money the rest is easy. For him hard labor within the Cellular Jail is the only option.”

After this, there was no more any hope for Savarkar that he would be allowed to work outside the Cellular Jail. Incredibly, despite all the restrictions and the unendurable circumstances, Savarkar had still managed to establish a spy system within and without the jail. Secret communications were maintained with his associates in Europe and the U. S. During WWI a German Cruiser, Emdem, was designated by the Kaiser Wilhelm II to rescue Savarkar from the Cellular Jail. This is a documented fact. Unfortunately, it was not to be.

Savarkar has very frankly given details of what he did (and why) in his My Transportation for Life (http://www.scribd.com/doc/16918361/My-Transportation-for-Life-Veer-Savarkar.) There is no need to speculate, cast aspersions, or play guessing games. It is all there to read. And he wrote this while still in British bondage in Ratnagiri. He wrote this when he was under pledge to stay away from politics, when his every written and spoken word was scrutinized, and the fear that his fifty-year sentence would be reinstated was hanging over his neck like the Sword of Damocles.

Not only did he write this book (he had also written Essentials of Hindutva in 1923 while actually incarcerated!) he also carried on clandestinely working for the freedom of his India.

When he was completely free in 1937, he swooped upon the political scene and threw his heart and soul into the gaining of freedom for an United India. He had developed the Hindu Mahasabha to be a strong contestant for the Hindu seats. But the gullible Hindus voted for the Congress instead. And India paid the price.

The point I wish to make by recounting this is:

· Can these be the actions of a man who has forsaken his country? One who has switched loyalty from his beloved motherland to that of her enslavers, the British?

· Can these be the actions of a man who is utterly demoralized and exposes himself by making “demeaning apologies and abject undertakings”?

No.

It is ridiculous and entirely contradicted by facts to claim so, but that does not prevent the anti-Savarkar propagandists from spreading their spiteful, maligning, and virulent lies.

And while there are undiscerning readers who will swallow blindly any tale told to them, the mud thrown at Savarkar sticks.

· Savarkar’s actions and his beliefs tell the true tale, though!

In the next couple of posts I shall show that even if that were not the case, there is still nothing shameful about Savarkar’s petitions.

Anurupa

[1] Savarkar’s prediction was published in the first issue of Talwar.

Savarkar on Pledges and Petitions

Posted on by Anurupa

“Hark! The thundering voice of their unfulfilled yearning,

Every second it calls out to you!

Is there anyone who can hear its clamour?

Rise, rise, all ye who do!

Stake your life! Fight—to fulfill our cause!”

- V. D. Savarkar, Ja Jhunje (Go Fight!)

Hi, Everyone! One of Savarkar’s most misunderstood and misrepresented actions are his petitions. Savarkar has clearly written in his My Transportation for Life and elsewhere that he did not consider such petitions or pledges made to the enemy, the enslavers of his Motherland, as binding. They were but a means to the end, a way to gain freedom from the jails to work toward gaining freedom for India.

This was one of the points I wanted to highlight in my novel. Fortunately, there was an occasion in the Cellular Jail in 1920 when Savarkar elaborated his beliefs to the other political prisoners, so I could stick to my self-imposed restriction of using real-life incidents while doing so. There was one hitch, though. Savarkar had not provided details of the examples he used in his arguments!

I was already quaking at the knees to write dialogue for Savarkar in such an important scene—to actually dare to figure out the argument threw me into a tizzy. Also, I was overwhelmed by the possibility of having to research Shivaji and Krishna to look for examples in their lives that would fit the arguments. Help! was all I could think. It was definitely a “phone-a-friend” lifeline moment.

And help, in the guise of Dr. Arvind Godbole, was indeed at hand! Without his input and guidance the scene below could never have been written.

“Soon enough, general amnesty was granted to several of them here but not unconditionally. They had to sign a pledge refraining from any political activity for a specified time. This offended most of them. It was an infringement upon their rights! A slur upon their patriotism! Sign a pledge? Never! Savarkar was very heartened to see that despite all their sufferings, they were still such staunch patriots. Such Sons of India should definitely be free to fight for their country!

“Brothers, there is nothing wrong in signing this pledge. Sign it and be free—free to work for the freedom of our motherland.”

“Tatyarao, with the signing of this pledge our hands are tied! It forbids us to do just that very thing.”

“Ah, but do you have to follow its dictate?” asked Savarkar passionately. “No! A pledge imposed upon us by a foreign enemy power is worth only the paper it is written on. There is no reason to stay committed to it! It is merely a means to an end—only an avenue to break the locks of this jail.”

“But that would be deceitful, Tatyarao!”

“Deceitful to whom?” exclaimed Savarkar. “When we have no constitutional rights and are crushed into subjugation by arbitrary laws of an enemy power, honesty as you mean it is not a luxury we can indulge in!”—he raised the palms of his hands—“the only honesty and truth for us is reinstating the honor of our beloved Hindustan. We follow any path that circumstances force us to take. If the British rule us by unlawful means, we go against this law of theirs to gain freedom. When under duress we make petitions and even sign pledges!”

“Yes, Tatyarao, there is much in what you say. But it still seems cowardly to sign such papers. The blood of heroes like Shivaji flows in our veins! What, shall we supplicate before the enemy? History will label us as cowards and hypocrites!”

“We cannot swerve from our path by fear of adverse public opinion! Shivaji was very brave indeed. Yet when needed, he took a conciliatory position with Aurangzeb. At one time, Shivaji suffered many losses from the mighty Mughal forces led by Mirza Raja Jaisingh and Dilerkhan. He made a small capitulation and signed the Treaty of Purandar. He was forced to hand over to Aurangzeb many forts and go to Agra. Here he was treacherously imprisoned by Aurangzeb. Shivaji sent petition after petition professing loyalty to him, all the while planning his escape! It was his strategic move to lull the enemy. Can Shivaji be accused of cowardice? Change of heart? Never! We must also admire the forethought with which he killed the mighty Afzal Khan by ripping open his stomach with the tiger claws. If he had not broken his promise of being unarmed in that meeting, Afzal Khan’s plot to crush him to death would have been successful!”

“Tatyarao, indeed, we did not see it in this light.”

“Who can dispute the word of our Lord Shri Krishna?” Savarkar continued. “His whole life is an illustration of diplomacy and strategic skills! When Jarasandha was wreaking havoc in Mathura, the time was not right to vanquish him. Shri Krishna retreated west to a new land, Dwarka. He established a strong kingdom and, at an opportune moment, had Jarasandha killed. Let us, too, use strategy to be free. There is no advantage in being caged here. Mother India needs just such staunch patriotic sons as you. Vande Mataram!”

One and all were convinced and the pledges duly signed. The gates of the Cellular Jail were thrown open. These brave, heroic men walked all the way to the pier singing patriotic songs. Such was their devotion to their motherland!”[1]