Written by Kanav Kapoor, a grade 6 student.

Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, popularly referred to as ‘Swatantryaveer Savarkar’, was an Indian independence activist and politician who devised the Hindu nationalist philosophy of Hindutva. Born in 1883, he was a leading figure in the Hindu Mahasabha who was born in 1883 in Bhagur (Nashik district). He did a Bachelor of Arts from Fergusson College, Pune, and went to Britain to study law.

He was jailed for 50 years by the Britishers for forming an organization to revolt against the British. For this rebellion, he was extradited to Bombay and was then finally moved to the Cellular jail in Andaman and Nicobar islands.

He had a very famous slogan- “Hinduise all Politics and Militarise Hindudom”. He is the author of several books and one of his most famous books is titled “The History of the War of Indian Independence”. It is based on the revolt of 1857.

In 1937, he became the president of the ‘Hindu Mahasabha’ and encouraged Hindus to support the British in the Second World War. Veer Savarkar opposed the ‘Quit India Movement and later objected to the partition of the country into two separate nations. He also proposed the co-existence of two nations in one country.

Furthermore, he also worked in eradicating some of India’s social evils like caste discrimination and untouchability. His books motivated the youth and because of his courageous behaviour, he earned the title ‘Veer’ and came to be known as Veer Savarkar.

Written by Kanav Kapoor, a grade 6 student.