Outrage Sparks as Savarkar Biopic Claims He Inspired Netaji Subhas Bose & Bhagat Singh

Bhubaneswar: Controversy surrounds Hindutva ideologue Vinayak Damodar Savarkar once again, this time due to claims made by the promotion team of the film ‘Swatantrya Veer Savarkar.’ They assert that Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, Bhagat Singh, and Khudiram Bose were inspired by Savarkar, sparking criticism from social media, the Bose family, and writer Vikram Sampath.

However, Sampath clarified that the film was not based on his books and he was not responsible for the claims made about Savarkar. The ruling BJP celebrated Savarkar’s birth anniversary and considers him a freedom fighter, while the opposition Congress has objections to his legacy.

The film ‘Swatantrya Veer Savarkar,’ featuring actor Randeep Hooda as the main protagonist, released a teaser on Savarkar’s birth anniversary. The claim in the teaser that Bose was inspired by Savarkar received backlash, including from Bose’s grandnephew Chandra Kumar Bose, who called it a “publicity stunt.” Chandra Kumar Bose emphasized that Bose was inspired by Swami Vivekananda and Chitranjan Das, not Savarkar. In the teaser, Hooda portrays Savarkar as a feared revolutionary who inspired Bhagat Singh, Subhas Chandra Bose, and Khudiram Bose.

Another development related to Savarkar is the announcement by actor Ram Charan about the launch of ‘The India House’ named after Savarkar’s base in London. Savarkar used India House as a centre for anti-British revolutionary activities during his time studying law in England.

Savarkar remains a controversial figure due to his dual identity as an anti-British revolutionary and a political leader associated with ‘Hindutva.’ Some historians speculate that his legacy would have been different if he had been sentenced to death instead of prolonged imprisonment. Savarkar’s concept of Hindutva viewed Hinduism as a subset of the political idea, which differs from its contemporary understanding. He was also accused of involvement in Gandhi’s assassination but was acquitted. However, he faced subsequent arrests for making Hindu nationalist speeches.

The controversy surrounding Savarkar is expected to continue as the 2024 general elections approach. His life is often divided into two phases—his revolutionary activities against the British and his later political involvement with Hindutva and the Hindu Mahasabha.