In politically fallen socially degraded, and financially ruined Bharat , two significant events took place in 1883. Swami Dayanand Saraswati was at the end of his earthly pilgrimage. Other event, a positive one was , Swantantryveer Vinayak Damodar Savarkar was born on Monday, 28th May 1883 at 10 p.m. at Bhagur, a village near Nasik, in today's state of Maharashtra.

His father was a man of position and personality. Savarkar's primary education was completed in the village and in Nasik .In Nasik itself his group 'Mitra Mela' established at the beginning of 1900.Later this 'friend's group' sprouted into 'Abhinav Bharat' in 1904,with it's network spread over the western and central Bharat , subsequently having branches and alliances with revolutionary parties like Ghadar all through Europe, U.S.A , Singapore etc.

After his parents passed away, it was his elder brother Babarao Savarkar who took all the responsibilities of the family and also took great care of Savarkar. In January 1902, Savarkar left for Pune for further studies and joined Fergusson college, the Harrow of Maharashtra in traditions and in producing historic personalities. During his stay in Pune ,Savarkar was actively involved in the freedom movement -with the moderates. As a symbol of nationalism, he initiated the program of 'Swadeshi' by arranging a 'bonfire' of English made clothes and clothings. It's flame whirled high up in the sky and noise echoed through length and breadth of India. After passing his B.A. in December 1905, Savarkar went to Bombay to study law. He had already passed his test LLB in 1904, at Pune itself.

The year 1906, was a landmark in Indian politics. In this year ,Muslim league was formed in Dacca. So also was India's first revolutionary organization- Anusheelan Samiti.

It was this year , that Savarkar proceeded to London under the garb of law student. His main aim was to look at the den of British lion, to learn how to organize a revolution. All this by inculcating tenets of revolution into the brilliant cream of Indian students, studying abroad. He openly started 'Free India Society'- the recruiting organization of Abhinav Bharat. It was here, he met many of his like minded people- Lala Hardayal,Gyanchand Verma, Madan Kama. Thousands of arms, pistols etc were arranged and sent in India for the armed struggle.With Savarkar's motivations, atrocities of Sir Michael Odwire and Curson Wyllie were avenged by Udhamsingh and Madanlal Dhingra in England ,by killing them. The 'Bomb manual' prepared by Abhinav Bharat, got circulated throughout India.

But soon after, clouds hung heavier, wind blew with speed , in Savarkar's political career-with a storm to arrive. Due to over exertion his health was visibly impaired. In Bharat one after the other, his followers ,comrades, and relatives were prosecuted, persecuted, exiled or executed. Friend's prevailed upon him to take rest in Paris, where for some change , he spent some time in 1910.

In London , an arrest warrant awaited him, although his disciples were persuading him not to return, Savarkar decided to face the music. On 13th of March 1910, he was arrested by a telegraphic warrant from Bombay government, under the fugitive offender's act of 1881,and later ordered him to be tried in India. The crew of steamer carrying him S.S MOREA was never aware ,that they would witness one of the epic escapes .Close to Marseilles the french port Savarkar entered the toilet- covered the glass pane with his night gown, priorly he had measured the size of the porthole.In a moment , he jumped through the porthole into the sea. After the guards caught sight of him,

they bullets whizzing by. This was the time to test his hard won skill of swimming and diving .

He swam through the shower of bullets, reached the steep end of the habour of Marseilles, and climbed the quay. He was looking for a cab, but had no money. He was asking the policeman on duty to take him to magistrate . Unfortunately his pursuers who had reached, overtook him, and by greasing palms of the policeman dragged Savarkar to the steamer once again. However this breech of law showed the world , a black side of British imperialism. On a foreign land, they had arrested with a British law! He was fired for two cases separately, and ultimately ordered for transportation for life -ironically two times along with a forfeiture of all his personal property.

The morning of July 1,1911 saw Savarkar entering into the jaws of ill famed jails at the Andaman island -ill famed as the 'bastille' of India. During quite a few years he spent , he initiated so many reforms amongst the prisoners. He made them literate. He eliminated their fears of 'getting converted' to Mohamedian sect. More importantly a great part of his literary contribution to Marathi and English literature was created in these years of captivity. He had a vision , even during this black period , that Andaman islands will be strategic naval bases of Independent India- it has become true! Truly Indian navy has established bases there.

By 1920, along with other reforms, Cardew committee reviewed the status of Andaman- subsequently it was decided that the settlement should close. In 1921, he was ultimately sent to Ratnagiri, Yerwada and Alipore jails. With the pressures mounting on the British government from all sectors of India to release him , he was conditionally released on January 4,1924. He was to confine himself within Ratnagiri district , and was not to engage publicly or privately in any political activities for 5 years.

This also, Savarkar utilized as an opportunity for his contribution to social revolution and reforms, mainly abolishing of the caste system. He inaugurated a temple at Ratnagiri wherein for the first time in India , the lower castes could enter freely. During all this time, he vehemently put up an operation against the caste system. Later years saw Savarkar consolidating his theory of Hindutwa, Hindu rashtra and how a powerful nation should be built, which will not bow down to pressures from super powers.

He was an active inspiration behind Netaji Bose's Indian national army. He was the man who had strongest yet most logical arguments, against the sessions Muslim thoughts in form of muslim league Khilafat and other organizations. Politically and temperamentally, he always opposed Gandhiji's nonviolence . His organization, Hindu Mahasabha was always keen on Akhand (Un. Split) Bharat. They asserted that 'quit India' should not end in 'split India'.

He had a large following with his 'Hindu Mahasabha'. People heard his eloquent addresses with pin drop silence. Even in independent India, after 1947, Savarkar was a very respectable figure in people's minds. His prophetic predictions were so accurate in realizing. He could see divided, but atleast freed India in his life. Never till his time definition of the very words 'Hindu' and 'Hindutwa' was made, in political viewpoint, Savarkar did that job. This ended all the misnomers, about these words being used in political discussions .Quite baselessly , he was spun and arrested in Gandhi's assassination case but released without any charge, and with honor. It's shocking that such a son of India, was treated ill by our own government.

In 1966, he was put on a fast ,stopped intake of food and water (Prayop- Veshan) and ended his earthly pilgrimage.