V.D. Savarkar and The Indian War of
Independence, 1857
IWI
Today’s
Music:
Nitin Sawheny
(feat.
Reena Bhardwaj)
Song:
“Nadia”
Today, we will discuss…
•
V.D. Savarkar’s
background
•
Historical Context in which IWI was
written (198-201)
•
Definition of Swaraj
•
Importance of “1857”
Before we move on to Savarkar…
•
Please remember that DOING includes:
•
Political
Participation
•
Resistance
•
Public Expression
•
Ethical
Interactions
(AntigoneàMichael
KohlhaasàGandhià
àSavarkar…)
To help you read IWI, consider the following…
•
“Author’s Introduction”, (V.D.Savarkar)
•
“Original Publisher’s Preface” (?)
•
“The Story of This History” (G.M. Joshi and Bal Savarkar)
•
Chapter 1: “The Volcano” (V.D. Savarkar)
The importance of writing…
(See “Public Writing”, Course Guide & Writer’s Handbook,
154-155).
Location matters…
Translation matters…
•
M.K. Gandhi
•
V.D. Savarkar
•
Trans+Latio
•
Please see:
GujaratiàEnglishàMany +
MarathiàEnglishàMany +
To carry meaning across different languages
(167)
“Writing and Translation,” Course Guide
and Writer’s Handbook, 167-170.
Two Themes to Consider when reading the authors*
•
Public/Counterpublic
Is Savarkar
writing for a public or counterpublic?
•
Argument/Counterargument
Is Savarkar
providing an argument or a counterargument?
A Brief Background
•
Full Name: Vinayak Damodar
Savarkar
•
1883-1966
•
Privileged Family: caste, class
•
Studies Law
•
Gets a scholarship to become a Barrister in
London
•
Letter of Recommendation by B.G. Tilak
•
Based in London, 1905-1910
Images of Savarkar
Shyamaji Krishnavarma
Background, con’t…
•
Member of a revolutionary organization
•
Young India Society (Abhinav
Bharat Society)
•
1905/6: Starts giving public lectures in Hyde
Park
•
Engages with revolutionaries from Scotland,
Ireland, Egypt, Russia, France, Germany, etc.
The Oath of Abhinav
Bharat
•
In the name of
God,
In the name of Mother India,
In the name of all the Martyrs that have shed their blood for Mother India,
By the Love, innate in all men and women, that I bear to the land of my birth,
wherein the sacred ashes of my forefathers, and which is the cradle of my
children,
By the tears of Indian Mothers for their children whom the Foreigner has
enslaved, imprisoned, tortured, and killed,
Oath, con’t
•
I, …
Convinced that without Absolute Political Independence or Swaraj
my country can never rise to the exalted position among the nations of the
earth which is Her due,
And Convinced also that that Swaraj can never be
attained except by the waging of a bloody and relentless war against the
Foreigner…
First Flag of India
Madame Cama
Madan Lal Dhingra
Madan Lal Dhingra
Savarkar’s Writings in London
•
1905: Translates
the writings of G. Mazzini
(Banned)
•
Essays &
Newspaper Articles: UK, US, India
•
Date Unknown:
Writes a history of Sikhs
(Lost)
•
1907: IWI
finished
•
1909: IWI
published
More on Savarkar
•
Arrested in 1910 for sedition
•
Convicted and sentenced to 2 life terms
•
Released in 1937
Why 1857?
•
Interprets as a Revolutionary War and a War of
Independence
•
Influenced by writings on the French and
American Revolutions
•
Importance of creating a historical
consciousness
•
To inspire future revolutions