Biography of Savarkar, Post 18: Independence

Birth of Free India

May 29, 1947: Savarkar urged the Congress leaders not to betray the electorates by accepting partition: they had promised a United India in their election campaign; therefore they should seek re-election on that basis. Naturally, the Congress did no such thing.

· Savarkar tried every which way to avoid the calamity of partition of his beloved India, but partition was declared on June 3, 1947, and Independence Day was to be August 15, 1947.

· Savarkar proposed that the Indian flag should have the Dharma Chakra and not the charkha. His proposal was voted in by the flag committee. This enraged Gandhi to the extent he ranted against the Indian flag in his Harijan, refused to show respect for the Indian flag, and stayed away from the celebrations.

·Savarkar gave his consent and blessing to Dr. Shyamaprasad Mookerjee to join the Cabinet.

·Savarkar predicted that Pakistan would attack India from Kashmir to Junagadh, and Hyderabad was an ever present threat.

·Savarkar declared that the Bhagwa flag could be hoisted as the State flag of India only after it was accepted by the whole nation in a democratic way. He refused to disrespect the flag of free India.



Lord Mountbatten giving Independence speech

August 15, 1947: at dawn, he hoisted both the flag of India and the flag of the Hindu Mahasabha on the dawn of Independence, disregarding the decision of the Hindu Mahasabha Committee.

- Anurupa