Last moments of Savarkarji.

Its baffling how physical endurance and mental resilience are considered the ultimate measures of a patriotic spirit and devotion. Here was a slight, frail man, more suited to a life of intellectual pursuits, who was subjected to prolonged incarceration, physical brutalities and mental torture meant to break his spirit and demolish his mental resilience.

A swift execution would have been a merciful sentence than 12 years of relentless physical torture and mental agony. But the British denied him his right to a heroic death and the honor of martyrdom and instead condemned him to a life of back breaking labour, soul crushing humiliation and excruciating physical torture. He and other patriotic prisoners were treated like beasts of burden, yoked to an oil mill, and forced to extract an impossible quota of 80 pounds of oil a day, and were mercilessly flogged if they failed to meet the stipulated amount. All this on a measely diet of food infested with worms and stones, served on rusty iron plates and water that was rationed to two cups a day.

Meanwhile one of our so called ‘founding fathers’ was busy revelling in the lap of luxury, travelling around the world, attending lavish parties with the elites, while brazenly romancing his colonial master’s wife and other mistresess, and the other was busy experimenting with his twisted version of truth by sleeping and bathing with his unclothed nubile grand neices or writing intimate letters full of sexual innuendos to his “soulmate” Kallenbaugh.

Three years before his death, Savarkarji had punlished an article titled “Atmahatya Nahi Atmaarpan”, in which he contended that when one’s purpose in life is fulfilled and one can no longer contribute to society, it is more honorable to willingly embrace death rather than passively await it. Ironically, the man who has been mocked as a coward, willfully and bravely chose to surrender his life by committing Prayopavesa, renouncing food and water and quietly embracing death with unwavering resolve and dignity and breathed his last on this day 58 years ago.

My humble tributes to the true patriot.
🙏🙏🙏