After his release from the Andaman Cellular Jail, Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, popularly known as Veer Savarkar, stepped into a world that had continued to function normally in his absence. Yet, for him, life had taken a renewed purpose. Though he could have pursued a peaceful and prosperous career as a lawyer, Savarkar's mind was firmly fixed on one mission—liberating India from British rule. A man of unmatched patriotism and revolutionary zeal, Savarkar did not allow imprisonment or restrictions to deter his spirit.
Return to Civil Life and Continued Surveillance
After his release, Savarkar first traveled to Mumbai, where his arrival generated a wave of excitement. Youths gathered to meet the legendary revolutionary and eagerly questioned him about his prison experiences and plans. Calmly and patiently, he interacted with everyone. Despite the enthusiasm, life was not easy. The British government ordered Savarkar to stay in Ratnagiri. However, local fear of British reprisal meant that nobody was willing to rent him a house. Ultimately, he took refuge with a friend in Sharagavi, near Ratnagiri. After several months, a kind-hearted individual finally offered him a place to stay, allowing him to settle with his family in Ratnagiri.
Social Reforms and the Hindu Organization Movement
In Ratnagiri, Savarkar initiated the celebration of Shivaji Jayanti with help from local youth. When a plague broke out, he temporarily shifted to Nashik with government permission. His return to Nashik—an epicenter of past revolutionary activity—was met with respect and honor. He received a certificate and ₹12,000 from Maharashtra. Even Puri Shankaracharya blessed him with a sacred Mahavastra.
This visibility, however, made the British nervous. They ordered Savarkar to return to Ratnagiri. Although barred from participating in political activities, he continued his mission indirectly through social reform and Hindu organization efforts. He moved from street to street collecting funds, humbly bowing to donors and elders, and asking only for their blessings if they could not contribute.
Championing the Cause of Untouchables and Social Equality
Savarkar had a deep concern for the upliftment of untouchables. He initiated efforts to secure admission for their children in public schools—something that met stiff resistance from orthodox communities. Undeterred, he negotiated with traditionalists, persuaded them with wisdom and compassion, and eventually succeeded. His activism encouraged many who had converted to other religions to return to Hinduism.
Some Christian missionaries, alarmed by his growing influence, complained to the Governor. The government's attempt to silence him backfired when Savarkar boldly replied:
If Christians can convert freely, we can reconvert too. Let them stop conversions, and we will also stop. This stinging logic stunned the authorities into silence.
Cultural Revival Through Unity and Inclusion
Savarkar emphasized eliminating caste barriers among Hindus. He initiated programs like the Haldi Kumkum ceremony, where women of all castes participated. His wife Yamuna personally gave Haldi Kumkum to women of lower castes, a revolutionary gesture at the time. Though some upper-caste women were offended and left, the event continued to grow in inclusivity and participation.
Savarkar also pushed for temple entry rights for untouchables, asserting that divinity belonged to all. His efforts faced opposition, but he persisted. He even arranged Sahabhojan (communal meals) where all Hindus, regardless of caste, shared food—publicly identifying himself thereafter solely as "Hindu."
The Patitapavan Mandir: A Symbol of Unity
With financial help from a prominent businessman, Savarkar founded the Patitapavan Mandir in Ratnagiri, a landmark for social reform. Here, untouchables served as priests and reciters, and meals were prepared by them at the adjacent Akhil Hindu Upahara Griha. The temple became a center for worship, dialogue, and Hindu unity.
Leaders like Dr. B.R. Ambedkar and Mahatma Gandhi took note. Ambedkar praised Savarkar's efforts in his publications. Though politically divergent, Gandhi and Savarkar shared a meeting in Ratnagiri. Despite ideological differences, both aimed at national upliftment—albeit by different paths.
Under Surveillance, Yet Tirelessly Active
Savarkar continued to travel across hilly regions and villages, uniting untouchables and promoting indigenous products. Although closely monitored and banned from political speeches, he kept the movement alive through religious and social events. Intelligence reports on his every move were routinely submitted to the British government.
He adopted the Hindu National Anthem, and Hindu National Flag, and advocated for Hindi as the national language and Devanagari as the national script. He even pushed for linguistic purification by removing Urdu-Persian words from Marathi and Hindi, leading to the compilation of new dictionaries.
Official Freedom and Renewed Activism
Although free from prison, Savarkar remained confined to Ratnagiri until 1937. Only through sustained public pressure—highlighted by one lakh collected signatures and the intervention of Jamnalal Mehta, then Chief Minister of Mumbai Province—did the government lift his restrictions.
He resumed national tours, visiting Pune, Kolhapur, and Mumbai, and then traveled to northern India. His powerful oratory attracted large crowds in cities like Faizabad, Agra, and Lucknow, energizing local freedom fighters. He even visited Punjab and Sindh, urging against communal separation.
Standing Against the Partition of India
In 1938–39, Savarkar led a Hindu Mahasabha movement in Hyderabad, where the Muslim-dominated Nizam administration suppressed Hindu rights. Under his leadership, Hindus secured 50% representation after sustained protests, while Congress remained silent on the issue.
In 1940, the Hindu Mahasabha session in Bagalpur was banned. Police arrested Savarkar, but the session continued with Bal Gangadhar Tilak's grandson reading Savarkar's speech. His growing popularity alarmed the authorities.
Rejection of the Cripps Mission and the Partition Proposal
During the 1942 Cripps Mission, British representative Sir Stafford Cripps proposed a plan offering self-determination to provinces. Savarkar saw it as a veiled attempt to split India. He outright rejected the proposal, asserting:
India is one nation. Hindus worship her as a mother. No part can claim the right to secede
Despite Cripps's attempts to sway him using examples from Canada and South Africa, Savarkar stood firm. He tore up the plan in protest and warned Congress leaders not to fall into the trap. Sadly, Congress passed a resolution supporting the Cripps proposals.
Opposition to the Quit India Movement's Stance
When Gandhiji launched the Quit India Movement in 1942, he famously said that even if the British handed over power to the Muslim League, it wouldn't matter. Savarkar strongly condemned this view. After Congress leaders were jailed, the movement fizzled, while the Muslim League hardened its stance for a separate nation.
The Heartbreak of Partition
Savarkar continued to oppose the division of India until the very end. However communal riots and political compulsions led to the creation of Pakistan on August 15, 1947. The loss of the Sindhu (Indus) River deeply pained him. For Savarkar, this was not just geopolitical loss—it was spiritual. The ancient verse invoking India's sacred rivers lost its unity. He mourned the symbolic and physical partition of his beloved land.
Reverence from Revolutionaries: Bhagat Singh and Subhash Bose
Savarkar's legacy inspired great revolutionaries. Bhagat Singh was moved by Savarkar's book The First War of Indian Independence—1857, distributing 2000 secret copies to fund the freedom struggle. When Bhagat Singh was executed, Savarkar wept like a child.
Subhash Chandra Bose, too, admired Savarkar's realistic and passionate leadership. Although there was speculation about Savarkar joining Congress, he refused due to ideological differences.
Final Reflections: Gandhi, Godse, and Misunderstandings
Savarkar and Gandhi had minimal emotional or ideological connection. They stood on opposite ends—Savarkar representing firm nationalism, and Gandhi, spiritual pacifism. Though he could have joined Congress and gained fame, Savarkar valued national honor over power. He often said, “Winning people with love is better than winning with force.”
On January 30, 1948, Nathuram Godse, a former Hindu Mahasabha activist, assassinated Mahatma Gandhi. The news stunned the world. Soon after, Godse's affiliation with the Hindu Mahasabha became public, causing widespread outrage.