JAIPUR: An interesting session on ‘Veer Savarkar: Life and Legacy’ was organised on the second day of Jaipur Literature Festival on Friday.
Uday Mahurkar, writer of a book on Veer Savarkar, and academician Makarand R Paranjape were in conversation with Mandira Nayar discussing about the contribution of Savarkar, his idea of Hindutva, his vision of India and his speeches that are taken out of context.
Vikram Sampath, noted historian who was in news recently for his two-volume book on Savarkar, was the main speaker but he couldn’t attend the session.
Mahurkar said that the speeches of Savarkar are now put on social media to create controversies and he has been made a polarising figure.
“A speech of Savarkar made in 1937 is in discussion now-a-days in which he said there are two Indias exist – Hindu India and Muslims India. People in 2022 quote his words as if he was dividing the nation. But later in that speech he said that we need to rise above as a nation from the idea of religion, caste or creed and stand united. This was Sarvakar’s idea of Hindutva,” said Mahurkar.
He was supported by Paranjape who said that if you look from one lens, even Mahatma Gandhi was a polarising figure.
“There are certain sections of Hindus, Dalit or women who don’t like him. But you cannot cancel Gandhi as he is an idea. Due to ‘thought-phobia’ and cancel culture anyone who talks about Savarkar is cancelled. This is nonsense. We need a civil and decent dialogue,” said Paranjape.
Now referring to the backlash Sampth’s book on Savarkar is facing, Paranjape called it unfair. When Mandira tried to ask some questions while Paranjape was speaking, he got irritated and blamed Mandira for cancelling and interrupting him. She clarified that her intention was just to ask a question about how you are going to justify Hindutva that becomes extreme. Mahurkar explained that Sarvarkar talked about Hindu and Muslim unity but made it clear in his speeches that there will be no ‘nation within nation’ and no minority appeasement.
“He supported pluralism and secularism but not just at the cost of Hindus,” said Mahurkar.
Both panellists, however, tried to dodge the question of Hindutva extremism that killed ‘Mahatma Gandhi.’
Mahurkar explained that Gandhi’s murder affected the political career of Savarkar but he didn’t answer the question of extremism in the name of Hindutva.
Paranjape and Mandira concluded the session that to know about any personality we need to read about them, not trust the ‘WhatsApp’ university.
