Introduction
Hindu Dharma has a glorious past of great Saints and Sages. Several Saints ascended to the state of Guru and showed the path of God realisation to many. They also taught spirituality to the society through their conduct and actions. Their mission was not just limited to spirituality but they also did substantial work for the defence of nation whenever it was in difficulties. Some of the Saints travelled all over the world and disseminated the spiritual knowledge of Bharat there without any personal expectations. Millions of people abroad are getting benefit of that. For last lakhs of years, the Sages took tremendous efforts to preserve the Vedic Knowledge which is the pride of Bharat. They also created many subjects connected with the human life and made it easy. The most important thing however is that the Saints of Bharat have donated the world the tradition of Guru-disciple.
The current scene however is different. The cricketers, movie heroes and heroines have become the ideals of Hindus. Also the two vices of selfishness and narrow mindedness have become dominant in Hindus which is causing lot of harm to Hindu society. Under such circumstances it has become essential to study and follow the life of Saints who have imparted the teaching of sacrifice, love. devotion to righteousness, devotion to nation, helping the society and kashtradharma (duty of a warrior). We are hereby publishing the matter related to them so that people should come to know about such great Saints. We pray at the feet of God that let Hindus get the inspiration to study and follow their biography and teachings.
Vinayak Damodar Savarkar (28th May 1883 – 26th February 1966)
|
 Vinayak Damodar Savarkar
|
Vinayak Damodar Savarkar was a politician and activist, who is credited with developing the Hindu nationalist political ideology Hindutva. A brief on him is presented here.
Qualities of vyashti (individual) welfare
Uncompromisingly radiant nationalism, intense urge for acquiring independence of the Nation and for establishing benevolent rule, striving hard without accepting defeat and without getting demoralised, undertaking an in-depth and comprehensive study of the Nation’s present true condition and sacrificing personal life, status and worldly pleasures were the main qualities of Veer Savarkar. He attached more importance to the welfare of society than to his personal life. He and his family had to suffer untold hardships for utilising theirvyashti life for the overall good of the samashti (society) in the freedom struggle.
Qualities of samashti welfare
He possessed the rare qualities required by a leader such as meeting and organising various nationalists for achieving the common goal of welfare of the Nation, imparting guidance to them on national issues, making skillful planning of freedom struggle, perseverance, endurance and patience. He was a visionary nationalist. He vehemently opposed the reservation policy, appeasement of non-Hindus and conversion of Hindus by other sects. His thoughts on the Nation were path breaking. He made Herculean efforts to create awareness among the masses about the harm being caused to the Hindus. He also made the people aware of the dangers that stared in the face of the Nation due to the harm being caused to Hinduism. His fearless and forthright writings, poems and speeches inspired the people to rise and fight for Bharat’s independence.
Guiding message of Savarkar
- When a person sets his goal, he becomes ready to sacrifice.
- When we are away from our goal, we are unable to endure sufferings.
- We should keenly observe the place of the enemy, collect all secret information about him and then work out a war strategy.
- By constantly remaining a slave, we lose our self-esteem.
Savarkar’s movement of purification of converted Hindu prisoners in Andamans
Savarkar reached the Andamans to undergo life imprisonment. The dreadful circumstances in the cellular jail in Andamans were instrumental in giving a concrete shape to his pride for Hinduism. He realised that due to the harassment and terror of the Pathan officers, the Hindu prisoners were converting to Islam. The Muslims had hatched a conspiracy to systematically spread Islam amongst the Hindu prisoners. Savarkar undertook an uphill task of opposing such malpractices in the Andaman jail. He had to commence the task of purification of converted Hindus in Andaman itself.
Savarkar had often asserted that conversion brings about change in national loyalties. The effects of conversion are very serious and it brings about political disaster. But the impotent Gandhians of secular hue and socialists branded the movement of Hindu Sangh as communal. In fact appeasement of Muslims was itself a very distorted and unnatural type of communalism and history is witness to it that at last it bore very sore and poisonous fruits. The communal riots today are the fruits of the impotent secularism. The consolidation of the Hindus was the movement of consolidation of nationalist forces for the integration of the Nation.
(Compiled by: Ms. Nandita Verma, Sanatan’s Ramnathi Ashram, Goa.)
