Gandhi memorial brings out special edition dedicated to Savarkar
New Delhi, Jul 18: The national memorial and museum set up in memory of Mahatma Gandhi has come out with a special edition of its monthly magazine Antim Jan, dedicated to Hindutva leader Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, with the forward hailing him as a "great patriot" whose place in history in "no less than that of Gandhi".
The June issue of the magazine brought out in Hindi by Gandhi Smriti and Darshan Samiti (GSDS), a hallowed institution under the Culture Ministry with the Prime Minister as its chairperson, features Savarkar on the cover in an illustration format, and also old articles reproduced from the works of Gandhi on religious tolerance, Savarkar on Hindutva and late prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on Savarkar.
The Samiti overseas Gandhi Smriti located in Birla House on Tees January Marg where he was assassinated by Nathuram Godse on January 30, 1948, and which was later converted into a museum. The GSDS also oversees the Gandhi Darshan, a solemn memorial to the Mahatma at Rajghat.
Vajpayee's piece is called 'Ek Chingari thhey Savarakar'. The June issue of Antim Jan, also includes articles by other contributors, such as Veer Savarkar Mahatma Gandhi Hatya Abhiyog by Dr Shreerang Godbole; Gandhi Evam Savarkar ka Sambandh by Dr (Maj) Madhusudan Cherekar; Veer Savarkar ko Etihasik Nyay Kab by Umesh Chaturvedi: "Swatanra ki Vedi ke Do Phool: Gandhi aur Savarkar" by Mritunjay Kumar, among others.
Vijay Goel, vice-chairperson of GSDS, who wrote the forward titled -- 'Mahan Deshbhakt Veer Savarkar' (great patriot Veer Savarkar) -- for the issue, in his write-up said, "Vinayak Damodar Savarkar was a great patriot, freedom fighter, carrier of indomitable courage, wonderful writer and a fabulous orator".
"Whenever one will talk of making supreme sacrifices during the freedom struggle, Veer Savarkar's name shall be taken with due respect and stature," writes Goel.
The GSDS vice-chairperson hailed Savarkar as a person endowed with "multi-faceted talents" and a "writer of high quality" and a "nationalist thinker".
Savarkar is a controversial Hindutava leader whose legacy has both admirers and critics. During British rule, he was also lodged in the Celular Jail on the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and he had also authored many books, including, 'The Indian War of Independence 1857', 'My Transportation for Life' and 'Hindu Rashtra Darshan'.
In October 2019, Tushar Gandhi, great-grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, had said that Savarkar was the patron of the Mahatma's assassination.
Savarkar, who faced trial in the Gandhi assassination case but was acquitted, had not been pronounced innocent by the court, he had claimed.
Goel in the forward, further says: "It pains that those who have not been lodged in jail for a day, did not suffer for the nation, did not do anything for the country and the nation, they criticise patriots like Savarkar who have made sacrifices. Even though, Savarkar's place in history and his honour when it comes to the freedom struggle is no less than that of Gandhi".
Inspired by the Prime Minister, the country is celebrating the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav. "And, we should recall the memories of Veer Savarkar and other great soldiers," he said.
The June issue also carries a black and white portrait of Savarkar, who was born on May 28 in 1883.
An article by the editor of the magazine, Praveen Dutt Sharma, titled Gandhi ka Gussa has been included as well in the issue.
On May 28 this year, the special officer and commissioner of the recently reunified Municipal Corporation of Delhi had garlanded Savarkar's statue located at Lajpat Nagar in south Delhi.
They had paid tribute to the "great patriot and freedom fighter Vinayak Damodar Savarkar on his 139th birth anniversary, " the MCD had said in a statement.
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IPL allows temporary replacements considering non-availability of a few foreign players
New Delhi, May 14 (PTI): The Indian Premier League on Wednesday allowed teams to make temporary replacements in their squad for the remainder of the tournament considering the non-availability of a few foreign players owing to the forced rescheduling of the event.
IPL had to be suspended last week due to the India-Pakistan military conflict but the announcement of the ceasefire paved the way for its resumption on May 17.
As per the original schedule, the IPL final was to be held on May 25 but now it will take place on June 3, making it trickier for the players who had to report for national duty.
While a few players are not returning due to personal reasons, the likes of Jamie Overton, representing CSK this season, will stay back in the UK for the white-ball series against the West Indies at home.
In an email to franchises which was accessed by PTI, IPL informed the teams of the temporary replacement player option.
"... in the current situation, where we had to temporarily suspend IPL 2025, resulting in its completion beyond the earlier set-out date of May 25, 2025, we have reassessed the Replacement Player provisions.
"Given the non-availability of certain foreign players due to national commitments or personal reasons or any injury or illness, Temporary Replacement Players will be allowed until the conclusion of this tournament.
"This decision is subject to the condition that the Temporary Replacement players taken from this point forward will not be eligible for retention in the following year," IPL said in its note.
As per the IPL Player Regulations 2025-27, players can be replaced if they are injured or ill, provided the injury or illness occurs during or before the 12th league match of the relevant team in that season.
"Temporary Replacement players will have to register for the IPL Player Auction 2026. The replacements which were approved or taken before the suspended period will be eligible for retention ahead of 2026 player auction," the note added.
The rescheduling is likely to impact the preparation of South Africa and Australia for the World Test Championship final beginning at Lord's on June 11.
