Savarkar's work as a social reformer

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From: Savarkar.org Team <admin@savarkar.org>
Date: Sat, May 28, 2011 at 5:41 AM
Subject: Savarkar's work as a social reformer
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Swatantryaveer Vinayak Damodar Savarkar (28 May 1883 to 26 Feb 1966) was a fearless freedom fighter, social reformer, writer, dramatist, historian, political leader and philosopher. Unfortunately, Savarkar has been a victim of malice and misinformation. Those who disagree with Savarkar's political views start with the assumption that he was an obscurantist and a reactionary bigot. As a considerable part of his literature is in Marathi, his thoughts and achievements in several spheres are largely unknown outside Maharashtra. Savarkar is largely known as a revolutionary freedom fighter and exponent of Hindutva. It is not widely known that he was also an outstanding social reformer. His contribution in the field of social reform is relevant even today. Savarkar's birth anniversary which falls on 28 May provides an excellent opportunity to dispassionately evaluate his contribution as a social reformer. Savarkar carried out a vigorous campaign for social reform through his thoughts, words and actions. Here is a summary of his work as a social reformer.

• In 1925, Savarkar organized a survey of the Maharwada in Ratnagiri and singing of bhajans there.
• In 1926, Savarkar launched an agitation for free intermingling of students of all castes and ex-untouchables in schools
• Savarkar persuaded people from so-called lower castes and ex-untouchables to send their children to schools by distributing free slates, pencils, clothes and money
• From 1927 onwards, accompanied by people of different castes, Savarkar would visit the houses of people belonging to different castes on Dassara and Makar Sankranti and distribute apta leaves and til-gul
• Savarkar organized mass haldi-kumkum programmes of women belonging to all castes. In this work, he was ably assisted by his wife Yamunabai or Mai.
• Savarkar would give free passes to ex-untouchables for the public performances of his play .Sangit Usshaap. and give them prominent places in the audience.
• Savarkar and his associates would organize free rides of the ex-untouchable Mahars in tongas around Ratnagiri port. This was to break the taboo of ex-untouchables to travel by public transport.
• Savarkar raised a musical band of ex-untouchables by taking a bank loan.
• In spite of his own meager financial resources, Savarkar raised a girl belonging to the ex-untouchable Maang community in his own house.
• Savarkar personally taught Shivu Chavan, a young boy from the ex-untouchable Bhangi (Balmiki) community to read and write and taught him the Gayatri mantra.
• Savarkar brought about the shuddhi (purification/ reconversion) of Hindus who had been lured into alien faiths. He organized the shuddhi of the Dhakras family which had embraced Christianity and even performed kanyadan of their daughter during her marriage.
• Savarkar lent public support to Dr. Ambedkar in his Mahad and Kalaram Mandir agitations.
• To demonstrate that no profession is lowly, Savarkar and his associates would personally spin cotton.
• In 1929, Savarkar started the first pan-Hindu Ganeshotsav. Programmes included public lectures by women and kirtans by persons from the Bhangi (Balmiki) community.
• In 1931, Savarkar started the Patitpavan Mandir, the first pan-Hindu temple in the whole country. The trustees included people of all castes and ex-untouchables. Savarkar distributed sacred threads to individuals from the ex-untouchable Mahar and Bhangi (Balmiki) communities. Any Hindu could become the pujari of the Patitpavan temple.
• In 1933, Savarkar started the first pan-Hindu cafe which was open to Hindus of all castes and ex-untouchables.

You can find more details at the link below
http://www.savarkar.org/en/veer-savarkar-social-reformer-part-i
http://www.savarkar.org/en/veer-savarkar-social-reformer-part-ii

Thanks,
Savarkar.org Team