Why Veer Savarkar deserves the Bharat Ratna – 2

Vinayak Damodar Savarkar was a great Indian patriot, pro-independence activist, politician, lawyer and writer. Savarkar was born in May 28, 1883. People to this date recall him for his bravery, valour and commitment to Indian independence. Because of his robustness, he is known by the name Veer. Savarkar was a Hindu nationalist and established the concept of Hinduism. According to historians and his followers that exist till date, he has a lion’s share in the freedom of India. His courage and valour is what has coined his name again and again as a deserved recipient of the BHARAT RATNA.

He was just 15 when he organized youth organization to spread his nationalist ideas. While he was pursuing BA from Fergusson College in Pune, he set up a bonfire of all the foreign goods/clothes after being inspired by Lokmanya Tilak’s announcement to boycott all things British.

Not one but eight of his publications were barred by the British Raj including the one about Indian rebellion in 1857 named the Indian war of Independence. He was jailed in 1909 for revolting against the Morley-Minto reforms. After receiving several mercy petitions from the Indian National Congress, he was released under strict condition of not participating in politics for the next 5 years. He was also barred from leaving the Ratnagiri district. Savarkar was known to be a Hindu nationalist and widely advocated his views on Hindu unity in both political and social terms.

Bharat Ratna is the highest civilian award presented by the Republic of India to any woman/man who has provided exceptional services to the country regardless of the race, occupation, sex or position. According to the Government of India, the award is presented in any field of human endeavor and in the past has been presented to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, cricketer Sachin Tendulkar and physicist and Nobel Prize winner C.V. Raman.

Veer Savarkar’s name has popped up a lot of times since the inception of Bharat Ratna in 1945 but he hasn’t received the accolade yet. The movement started from the cellular jail of Andaman where his supporters started demanding Bharat Ratna for Veer Savarkar. Savarkar was a prisoner in the cellular jail in Andaman for supporting Madan Lal Dhingra (a revolutionist himself) and organizing an armed revolt against the Morley Minto reforms of 1909.

Due to his serving at the Andaman jail, the Port Blair airport has been named Veer Savarkar International Airport and now there is also a petition to erect a grand statue of the Veer Savarkar in the premises of the Veer Savarkar International Airport. Recently, Advocate Shailesh Joshi has firmly asked the Indian Government to present him with the India’s highest civilian award – Bharat Ratna.  Several letters have been drafted and sent to the Government of India.

Sign the online petition to support the movement “Bharat Ratna to Veer Savarkar”

https://www.change.org/p/government-of-india-bharat-ratna-to-veer-savarkar

His followers in India and all over the world would be thrilled to know that his contributions are finally being honored.