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Monday, May 13, 2013

Biography of Savarkar, Post 14: Hindu Mahasabha Phase


Karnavati Session, 1937
The Constitution of India at this time was communal; Hindus could vote for Hindus only, Muslims for Muslims and so on. To save the integrity of India, an effective national party—one that Hindus could vote for instead of the Congress—was imperative. Hindu consolidation and a Hindu political party was the paramount need of the hour.


·        December 10, 1937: Savarkar was elected as President of Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha at its 19th Session at Karnavati (Ahmedabad) and continued to be re-elected President for seven years. In spite of very poor health, he delivered memorable Presidential addresses.

·        In Indian politics, the Congress was alienating the Princely States, taking Muslim appeasement to the extreme, and holding back swaraj until Hindu-Muslim unity was achieved. Savarkar swooped upon the Indian political scene and started an immediate whirlwind campaign to countercheck the decay that this Congress ideology had created. His main points were:

(1)  Hinduising all politics and militarizing Hindudom (this far-sighted decision also helped Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose in forming his army.)

(2)  forming an Indian Sovereign State on the foundation of Hindutva (Hindudom) where a Hindu is one who accepts Hindustan as his fatherland and holy land. The Constitution of free India would give equal rights to all, irrespective of caste (high or low) and religion.

·        By 1942, despite his failing health Savarkar had made the Hindu Mahasabha a force to be reckoned with. As one of the leaders whose opinions counted and whose cooperation was essential for the success of Sir Stafford Cripps Mission, he was featured in international newspapers. Savarkar rejected the proposal as it included a clause aimed at vivisection of India.

·        During this time Savarkar continued his social reform efforts and incorporated them in his busy schedule. He also revised the Devanagri script, coined new words in Marathi and Hindi language, and made sure that Hindi was recognized as the national language of India.




  
 
-  Anurupa

(Photo: Savarkar and Sir Stafford Cripps
Newspaper cuttings are from Australian newspaper archives.)
 

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