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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If Bumrah is not fit then a score of around 200 also might not be enough: Gavaskar
Sydney, Jan 4: Batting great Sunil Gavaskar feels India will struggle to defend even 200 in case premier pacer Jasprit Bumrah is unable to bowl at full throttle on the third day of the fifth and final Test against Australia here on Sunday.
Bumrah had left the field for scans during the second day's post-lunch session after bowling just one over, having experienced some discomfort. However, he returned to the dressing room after undergoing precautionary scans for an unspecified niggle.
India pacer Prasidh Krishna said his skipper had suffered back spasm.
The medical team was monitoring him as India ended the day 145 runs in front with four second innings wickets left on a SCG track which is aiding the bowlers.
"Look, if India scores 40 more runs or they put 185 on the board then they have a great chance but it all depends on Jasprit Bumrah's fitness. If Jasprit Bumrah is fit then 145-150 might be enough. But if Bumrah is not fit then a score of around 200 also might not be enough," said Gavaskar on Star Sports on Saturday.
Gavaskar also said maintaining secrecy around Bumrah's status is not going to help the Australians, who have so far struggled to counter the threat posed by the Indian pace spearhead.
"One thing that I liked was when he came back after the scan, obviously it took a lot of time because the hospital is a bit far, but he looked in good shape and his body language was such that there was no indication of the Australian team and it is very important to maintain the secrecy.
"Because, tactically you do not want to announce whether Bumrah will be available for bowling or not, and even if he is not available and this news goes across the opposition dressing room because till now Australian batsmen haven't found out a way to counter him, they don’t know whether they should attack, defend, or whether they should play on front-foot.
"So to execute this plan it is important to maintain secrecy, so Bumrah and the Indian team management managed it quite well," Gavaskar said.
The pacer has already taken 32 wickets in the series, and had figures of 2/33 in 10 overs before leaving the field, having removed Marnus Labuschagne in the morning session and Usman Khawaja on the last ball of the first evening.
