Bulbul reference in Savarakar essay is a "metaphor", says author's wife
Bengaluru, Sep 8: Following the controversy over a paragraph from class 8 Kannada second language textbook on V D Savarkar, which had gone viral on social media, for apparent "glorification" of the freedom fighter, the wife of the author has released a statement saying that the bulbul imagery in it is "nothing but a metaphor."
The lesson, "Kalavannu Geddavaru" is a travelogue written by author K T Gatti, narrating his experience about a visit to the Andaman cellular jail, where the Hindutva leader was imprisoned.
The author while describing about the prison cell in which Savarakar was lodged says, "there is not even a keyhole in Savarkar's cell, but still somehow bulbul birds used to come flying inside the cell and sitting on their wings Savarkar used to visit his motherland everyday and return."
This paragraph in the chapter had drawn flak from some social media users and others, who mocked the travelogue writer and the Karnataka government.
Gatti's wife Yashoda Ammembala in a statement said, being "indisposed", her husband is not in a position to clarify, and that she cannot speak on his behalf, but can share some relevant details.
She said, "...regarding the controversy over the bulbul imagery, it is self-evident that it is nothing but a metaphor. Much of the confusion appears to have been caused by the absence of context/ reference in the passage, which may be due to author's oversight or an editorial error."
As per informed sources, bulbuls were plentiful in the region and were an integral part of Andaman prison life, she said and pointed out that Savarkar's association with bulbuls is part of local folklore, a fact that finds mention in Savarkar's autobiography and a few other sources.
"We don't know if the metaphor of Savarkar riding over bulbul was the author's creation or if it is a story he had picked up from any book or local source, but we can say for certain that the bulbul image per se did not spring from the author's imagination," she said adding that many well-wishers of her husband have reached out asking for clarification and the family was not aware of the inclusion of Gatti's work in the textbook until this controversy broke out."
Though, some social media users had said the reference on bulbul seems to be a poetic expression or a metaphor used by the writer, as part of his narration, and should not be taken in a literal sense.
A few had tried to make fun of what has been said in the paragraph, by tweeting pictures of caricatures resembling Savarkar sitting on a bird, while a section even called it a "worst form of political propaganda" and "destroying of education system."
Highlighting that the essay included in the 8th standard Kannada non-detailed textbook is a chapter from Gatti's travelogue, "Nisargakanye Andaman", published in 1996, Ammembala said, it has been introduced in the Kannada textbook as an example of "Pravasa Sahitya (travel literature)."
"Note that it is part of the language curriculum, not history curriculum. Being a travelogue, it is not meant to be considered a source for historic facts," she said.
Further noting that Gatti's account of Savarkar in the book includes nothing more than experiences of his Andaman jail experiences, and there is no mention of the nature of his role in the freedom struggle, or any detail about his ideology, Ammembala said, in fact, there is no mention of Savarkar in any of the author's writings to suggest he had any information about Savarkar besides what is presented in the book.
"Around 30 per cent of the chapter contains quotes from the book, 'Swatantrya Veera Savarkar' (Mathoor Krishnamurthy, 1966). Savarkar's autobiography is also among the sources listed in the bibliography," she said.
"Those familiar with K T Gatti's literature are unlikely to assume that the metaphor was meant to glorify Savarkar by an admirer of his ideology, and may not need any clarification regarding this," she said, as she suggested reading some of his works to those unfamiliar with his worldviews and are interested in knowing more.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Suspected drones observed along IB in Jammu's Samba, being engaged: Army
Jammu, May 12 (PTI): Security forces are engaging suspected drones observed along the International Border in Samba district of Jammu region on Monday, an Army said.
This fresh incident of drone activity along the borderline comes barely hours after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s first address to the nation following Operation Sindoor and the meeting of the DGMOs of India and Pakistan.
The Army, however, said there is no need to be alarmed.
“A small number of suspected drones have been observed near Samba in J&K. They are being engaged,” it said.
In the backdrop of the situation, several areas witnessed blackouts in Samba, Kathua, Rajouri, and Jammu.
Lights were switched off at the cave shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi and along its track as a precautionary measure, sources said.
On Monday, talks between the DGMOs were held during which issues related to the continuing commitment that both sides must not fire a single shot or initiate any aggressive or inimical action against each other were discussed, the Indian Army said.
It was also agreed that both sides would consider immediate measures to ensure troop reduction along the borders and in forward areas, it added.
The situation remained largely peaceful across Jammu and Kashmir, with no incidents of ceasefire violation reported along the Indo-Pak border Sunday overnight — marking the first calm night after 18 days of hostilities following the Pahalgam terror attack that left 26 people — mostly tourists — dead.
India and Pakistan on Saturday reached an understanding to cease all firing and military actions on land, air, and sea with immediate effect, following four days of intense cross-border drone and missile strikes that brought the two countries to the brink of full-scale war.
Eighteen days of intense hostilities following the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor, which brought India and Pakistan to the brink of war, ended with a ceasefire that restored calm along the Line of Control, the International Border, and the hinterland in Jammu and Kashmir. The Army thwarted Pakistan’s Hamas-style kamikaze drone attacks during the escalation.
Since the night of April 24, hours after India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty in response to the Pahalgam terror attack, Pakistani troops repeatedly targeted Indian positions along the LoC — beginning in the Kashmir Valley and quickly expanding to the Jammu region.
The latest hostilities began in the northern districts of Kupwara and Baramulla in the Kashmir Valley, before spreading southwards to Rajouri, Poonch, Akhnoor, and the Pargwal sector along the International Border in Jammu district. The firing affected five border districts — Baramulla, Kupwara, Poonch, Rajouri, and Jammu.
The recent round of cross-border firing further undermined the ceasefire agreement reached in February 2021, which has largely been seen as ineffective due to Pakistan’s frequent violations along the 740-km-long LoC.
The April 22 terror attack, which claimed the lives of 26 people — mostly tourists — in Pahalgam’s Baisaran valley, triggered a strong response from the central government.
The India-Pakistan border stretches over 3,300 kilometers, divided into three segments: the International Border (IB), spanning about 2,400 km from Gujarat to Akhnoor in Jammu; the 740-km-long Line of Control (LoC) that divides Jammu and Kashmir; and the 110-km-long Actual Ground Position Line (AGPL), which separates the Siachen Glacier region.
WATCH: OP Sindoor continues. Minutes after PM Speech.
— Rahul Shivshankar (@RShivshankar) May 12, 2025
A small numbers of suspected drones being observed near Samba in J&K. Being engaged . pic.twitter.com/jmGmRkmQ26
