PM Modi pays tribute to pro-independence activist Veer Savarkar on death anniversary

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday paid tribute to Veer Savarkar on his 49th death anniversary.

"Tributes to the great Veer Savarkar on his Punya Tithi. He ignited the spark of nationalism in several lives," Prime Minister Modi tweeted.

Vinayak Damodar Savarkar was born on May 28, 1883 and died on February 26, 1966. He was an pro-independence activist, politician, poet, writer and playwright. During his lifetime, he advocated the dismantling the caste system and reconversion of converted Hindus back to Hindu religion. Savarkar also coined the term Hindutva, and emphasized its distinctiveness from Hinduism which he associated with social and political communalism. The stated aim of Savarkar's Hindutva was to create an inclusive collective identity. The five elements of his philosophy were utilitarianism, rationalism and positivism, humanism and universalism, pragmatism and realism.

Savarkar's revolutionary activities began while studying in India and England, where he was associated with the India House and founded student societies, including the Abhinav Bharat Society and the Free India Society, as well as publications espousing the cause of complete Indian independence by revolutionary means.

He published The Indian War of Independence about the Indian rebellion of 1857 that was banned by British authorities. He was arrested in 1910 for his connections with the revolutionary group India House. Following a failed attempt to escape while being transported from Marseilles, Savarkar was sentenced to two life terms of imprisonment totalling fifty years and was moved to the Cellular Jail in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, but released in 1921.

In 1921, under restrictions after signing a plea for clemency, he was released on the condition that he would renounce his revolutionary activities. Travelling widely, Savarkar became a forceful orator and writer, advocating Hindu political and social unity. Serving as the president of the Hindu Mahasabha, Savarkar endorsed the ideal of India as a Hindu Rashtra and opposed the Quit India struggle in 1942, calling it a "Quit India but keep your army" movement.

He became a fierce critic of the Indian National Congress and its acceptance of India's partition. He was one of those accused in the assassination of Mahtma Gandhi, but was acquitted during the trial.

Following his acquittal, he was politically active off and on till his death at the age of 83 in 1966.