Decode Politics: Amid Fadnavis govt's Savarkar push, why a research Centre is in the spotlight
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday announced the establishment of the Swatantryaveer Vinayak Damodar Savarkar Study and Research Centre at Mumbai University's Kalina campus.
While the Hindutva ideologue has been celebrated by the Maharashtra governments in the past, this is the first time that it is setting up a study and research Centre on him.
The Fadnavis-led Mahayuti government has decided to sanction Rs 100 crore for this Centre project and has also declared its plan to build a Savarkar statue on Mumbai University's campus.
Besides, Fadnavis asserted that the Maharashtra government would also start correspondence with the relevant authorities in the United Kingdom to get Savarkar's barrister degree restored. Savarkar had completed his law education from Gray's Inn in London. But he was denied the barrister degree as he refused to pledge his allegiance to the British crown – a mandatory requirement then to obtain it.
Here is a look at various aspects of the proposed Savarkar Centre and its scope as compared to such initiatives in the past.
The Centre will document, preserve and archive the biography of Savarkar and his works, exploring his writings, speeches, and other available material. It will also offer various courses including the certificate, diploma, undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral programmes on Savarkar.
Prof Ravindra Kulkarni, the Vice-Chancellor of Mumbai University, told The Indian Express: 'The Centre will enable students, educators, and researchers to study ideas related to social reform, freedom, and national thought. Through this, we will strive to establish a global intellectual platform by encouraging scholarly debates and discussions on similar ideas.'
Savarkar was himself a student of Mumbai University and received his Bachelor of Arts degree from here in 1906. While it was revoked by the British government in 1911 due to his participation in India's freedom struggle, it was restored posthumously in 1960.
Prof Kulkarni said that in 2022, while researching on the distinguished alumnus of Mumbai University, the idea of a Centre on Savarkar began taking shape.
Mumbai University has also other centres on different iconic figures. In 2020, the Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar International Research Centre for Social Justice was announced by Mumbai University with a budgetary allocation of Rs 1 crore.
In 2019, a stone-laying event was inaugurated for the Professor Bal Apte Centre for Studies in Students and Youth Movements at Green Technology Building at Mumbai University by then Maharashtra Governor C Vidyasagar Rao.
In 2006, the Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Contemporary Studies was set up by the then Congress-NCP government.
The Ambedkar International Research Centre for Social Justice remains on paper, even as a land has been identified for it at Mumbai University's Kalina campus.
The Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Contemporary Studies has a building which offers a few programmes. However, some Mumbai University officials said it has not been running properly.
The Bal Apte Centre for Studies in Students and Youth Movements, officials said, is however running smoothly, which recently issued advertisements for the recruitment of some teaching and non-teaching staff.
While studying in the UK, Savarkar joined other Indians abroad who planned to fight the British rule back home. In March 1910, 27-year-old Savarkar was arrested over these activities. While being extradited back home, he escaped from a steamer near the coast of France, and swam ashore. As that episode made headlines, Savarkar was rearrested and handed over to the British.
At the age of 28, Savarkar was sentenced to two life terms and sent to Cellular Jail in the Andamans. The prison was meant to break the most hardened of prisoners, and Savarkar also faced torture and brutality.
He was released from the prison in 1924 following contested 'mercy petitions' and a promise to not participate in political activities.
A new chapter in Savarkar's life started with his election as the president of the Hindu Mahasabha at Ahmedabad in 1937. He continued in this position until 1943.
After Mahatma Gandhi's assassination in January 1948 by Nathuram Godse, who was a member of the Hindu Mahasabha, Savarkar was also tried as an accused, but was eventually acquitted by the court.
He has continued to remain a major figure for the BJP.
During the BJP-led NDA government headed by Atal Bihari Vajpayee, a profile of Savarkar was published by the government in February 2003 to mark his death anniversary, and a portrait of his was installed in the Central Hall of Parliament by then President A P J Abdul Kalam on February 26, 2003. The Opposition parties such as the Congress and the Left had boycotted the function.
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