Southern Slice | Is It Time to Let Veer Savarkar Debates Rest? Decoding Portrait Row & Beyond – News18

Another storm has erupted in Karnataka as state minister Priyank Kharge said if he were given a chance, he would remove Savarkar’s portrait from the Assembly Hall in Belagavi’s Suvarna Vidhana Soudha.

“I do not agree with those principles and ideologies where equality never existed. I will not agree with the ideologies which led to the killing of Mahatma Gandhi-ji,’’ Priyank Kharge said, adding that his allegiance lies with the Constitution and he would request the Speaker to remove the portrait immediately as it has no relevance to Karnataka.

Savarkar Portrait in Karnataka Assembly

The previous BJP government in Karnataka stirred up a controversy around the same time during the Winter Session of the Karnataka assembly with the unveiling of controversial Hindutva ideologue Veer Savarkar’s portrait alongside Swami Vivekananda, Subhas Chandra Bose, BR Ambedkar, Basaveshwara, Mahatma Gandhi, and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.

In response, the Congress demanded the inclusion of portraits of other historical figures like Maharishi Valmiki, Kanakadasa, Shishunala Sharifa, Babu Jagjeevan Ram, and Kuvempu.

Savarkar and His Belagavi Connection

Belagavi, the epicentre of the border row between the state and Maharashtra, holds a special place in the Savarkar saga. It was the site of his preventive detention at the Hindalga Jail in 1950 to stop him from protesting the arrival of then Pakistan prime minister Liaquat Ali Khan in New Delhi.

Kharge questioned the basis of Savarkar’s title ‘Veer’, raising concerns about his family’s alleged clemency petition to the British, his stance on cow protection, and whether he received a pension from the British.

When asked about replacing Savarkar’s portrait with Jawaharlal Nehru’s, Kharge agrees that Nehru is more suitable as he spent “more than 3,000 days and is the first PM of India. Nehru laid a strong foundation for what the BJP claims the country is economically stronger”.

Beyond the Current Portrait Controversy

Beyond the current row, Veer Savarkar’s life remains a subject of historical fascination. From his revolutionary days in London to his transformation into the foremost ideologue of Hindutva during his incarceration, Savarkar’s journey has been marked by ideological shifts and political manoeuvring. His critical stance on Islam during this period and willingness to engage with the British as the leader of the Hindu Mahasabha add to his political thoughts and legacy.

The Many Lives of Savarkar Even After His Death

Veer Savarkar’s story doesn’t end with his passing; it continues to spark debates and conflicts.

In the early days, Savarkar stood out as an influential figure among Indian revolutionaries in London. His speeches at Shyamaji Krishna Varma’s India House greatly impacted young Indians, and many Indian nationalists held Savarkar in high regard.

However, Savarkar’s trajectory took a turn during his extended confinement in the cellular jail. Transitioning from a revolutionary, he sought clemency and emerged as the leading proponent of Hindutva. His ideology argued that only those who considered India their fatherland and holy land could be Hindus. Critically, he became deeply critical of Islam and, as the leader of the Hindu Mahasabha, was even open to collaborating with the British.

Fifty-seven years after his passing away, his name continues to spark controversies, and Karnataka seems to be at the centre of it all.

Shivamogga: Tipu and Savarkar

On August 15, 2022, a clash erupted in Shivamogga over a poster of Veer Savarkar at the Ameer Ahmed circle. Tensions rose as another group aimed to display a poster of 18th-century ruler Tipu Sultan at the same spot. The conflict escalated, resulting in a stabbing incident. After a mild intervention, district officials hoisted the Indian flag at the location. Subsequently, a photo of Savarkar appeared at the Majestic Metro station, sharing space with Chandrashekhar Azad and Udham Singh.

Kannada Textbook: A Questionable Tale

A Class 8 Kannada textbook stirred controversy with a passage claiming Savarkar used to fly on the back of a bulbul bird to illustrate his time in solitary confinement at the Cellular Jail from 1911 to 1924. While the textbook creator defended it as “beautified prose”, educationists and historians labelled it “pure distortion”. This contentious chapter, titled Kalavannu Geddavaru, replaced an earlier chapter by Vijayamala Ranganath called Blood Group.

Savarkar Flyover: Symbolic Structure

Despite opposition in 2020, the then Karnataka chief minister BS Yediyurappa scheduled the inauguration of a 400-metre flyover named after the RSS ideologue. Protests by the Congress and JD(S) took place against the Rs 34 crore flyover’s inauguration in Bengaluru’s Yelahanka on May 28, Savarkar’s birth anniversary. The flyover was intended to link Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan Road and Yelahanka New Town with the Vidyaranyapura area in north Bengaluru. However, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) called off the ceremony last minute, citing the Covid-19 lockdown.

Ganesha and Savarkar: Continuing Controversy

In 2021, amid the Ganesha Chaturthi celebrations, BJP members distributed posters of the Hindutva ideologue. Now, Right-wing outfits plan to display posters of Savarkar and freedom fighter Balagangadhar Lokmanya Tilak in Ganesh pandals. Led by the Hindu Janajagruthi Samiti, a budget of Rs 150 (is this 150 or something else) has been allocated per pandal in the state for putting up these posters.

However, the ongoing polarisation surrounding Savarkar’s legacy has only exacerbated bitterness in political discourse.

The question arises: Isn’t it high time to let the Savarkar debate rest? Discussion of his success and failures is better suited for debates in history departments in universities, rather than making it a bitter political battle.