‘India will forever remember his valiant spirit ,’ says PM Modi on Veer Savarkar’s death anniversary

Leaders paid respect to Sarvarkar, who coined the term “Hindutva” and wrote his famous ideological treatise, “Hindutva: Who is a Hindu?".

By: Express Web Desk

New Delhi | Updated: February 26, 2024 02:26 PM IST

3 min read

Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, commonly known as Swatantryaveer Savarkar in Marathi language, was an Indian independence activist and politician who formulated the Hindu nationalist philosophy of Hindutva. He was a leading figure in the Hindu Mahasabha. (Express archive photo)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi sent his tributes to Indian freedom fighter and Hindutva ideological head Vinayak Damodar Savarkar on Monday, on the occassion of the leader’s death anniversary. The prime minister, in a post on X (formerly Twitter), said Sarvarkar’s spirit continues to push the country forward into development.

PM Modi’s post reads, “Tributes to Veer Savarkar on his Punya Tithi. India will forever remember his valiant spirit and unwavering dedication to our nation’s freedom and integrity. His contributions inspire us to strive for the development and prosperity of our country.”

Several other leaders paid their respects to Sarvarkar, who coined the term “Hindutva” and wrote his famous ideological treatise, “Hindutva: Who is a Hindu?”.

Minister of Education and Skill Development Dharmendra Pradhan took to X to pay his homage to the Hindutva leader. He wrote in the post, “A devout patriot, an extraordinary freedom fighter and a versatile genius, Veer Savarkar lived and died for India and its people. Our grateful nation will always be indebted to him for his unparalleled contributions. His scholarly vision, fearless spirit and innumerable sacrifices will remain an inspiration.”

National Congress Party Madhya Pradesh president Prafull Patel also paid homage to Sarvarkar on X. His post reads, “On this day, we commemorate the death anniversary of the eminent revolutionary Vinayak Damodar Savarkar Ji, acknowledging his significant role in India’s fight for freedom and his enduring influence on nationalist ideals. His memory continues to inspire and guide us.”

Chief Minister of Assam Hemanta Biswa Sarma, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Arunachal Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein, Chief Minister of Goa Pramod Sawant were some other political leaders that took to X to pay their respects to Sarvarkar.

Savarkar’s ideas on Hindutva have been debated over years, with scholars divided over the interpretation of his ideas of what the Indian nation constitutes.

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