Savarkar always dreamed of free India. But the independent India too proved no pleasant experience for him. His agony continued and his soul was troubled.
In the very beginning Savarkar suffered the trauma of being accused of the assassination of Gandhiji’s. It was a trying period.
His younger brother Narayan was beaten by people when the rumour spread that Savarkar had a hand in the killing of Gandhiji. Narayan failed to recover. His condition deteriorated very fast. On 19th October, 1949 he breathed his last. He too had suffered for the country but the independence beat him to death.
On 26th January, 1950 Constitution of India was made legal instrument for the country to function under. Savarkar knew Dr. Ambedkar in the course of his fight against untouchability. He wrote to the President, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, “I am ready to serve the nation in whatever way. I will stand by you with all my power. I hope that you will give special attention to make the armed forces strong.”
When Pakistani Prime Minister Liakat Ali visited Delhi to discuss East Bengal problem many Hindu Mahasabha members were put in jail including Vinayak Savarkar as a preventive measure. Pak Prime Minister was bitter critic of Savarkar and his Hindu Mahasabha. Savarkar was sent to Belgaon jail.
He was released only after a writ petition was filed in the Supreme Court.
Due to constant failing health he had withdrawn from politics and concentrated his mind to social reforms. But here too there were hurdles. Even Hindu organisations shunned him instead of extending help to him.
RSS wanted to remain a cultural organisation with its own distinct agenda. It won’t unite with Mahasabha. Savarkar was for participation in politics. RSS kept distance from Hindu Mahasabha. Infact RSS launched its own political front in the form of ‘Jana Sangh’.
On the untouchability issue also there were fissures. Other Hindu leaders talked of the reforms and the banishment of untouchability for the purpose only paying lip service. Deep down they wanted to perpetuate the caste system for their own advantage.
Savarkar was seriously working for the removal of the untouchability from the Hindu society and for opening all temples for Harijans. So, Savarkar was secretly being sidelined by the orthodox elements.
Politically Congress commanded over-whelming following among the masses being the party that won the independence for India. It was very difficult to dislodge it. To add to it the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi had given very bad name to Hindu Mahasabha.
In 1952, when the first General Election was held Savarkar’s Hindu Mahasabha was routed. Most of its candidates forfeited their security deposits. Even independents fared better than Mahasabha candidates. It showed how things were going wrong for Savarkar inspite of having scattered bands of hard core followers. Mahasabha could not improve its position in subsequent election also.
So, on most of the fronts Savarkar was being sidelined and isolated.
Then, Savarkar fell ill. When he got better his wife Yamunabai took to bed. She was in bad condition and was admitted to a hospital. The treatment continued. She wished to see her husband. But Savarkar could not go to see her due to bad health. Yamunabai wished to be carried home. But she passed away before that could be done.
In 1964, Lal Bahadur Shastri became the Prime Minister of India. He appreciated the work done by Savarkar. He got all the restrictions imposed on Savarkar lifted inspite of opposition from within the party. A pension was also granted to Vinayak Savarkar as he had lost everything to the cause of the country.
Savarkar’s health again failed. The treatment of the doctors was not working.
The President, Sarvepalli Radha Krishanan was worried about his health. He sent his aide to see ailing Savarkar.
Meanwhile Indo-Pak war of 1965 began. Lal Bahadur Shastri ordered the armed forces to advance at Lahore. It made Savarkar smile.
Soon cease-fire was announced. During the peace talks at Tashkent Lal Bahadur Shashtri suffered a stroke and passed away.
It completely broke Savarkar. He had no more wish to live. He refused to eat or take any medicine. He wished to see Shankaracharya. As he could not go himself Shankaracharya obliged with a visit to ailing Savarkar.
His condition reached the terminal state.
At 11.10, on 26 February, 1966 Vinayak Damodar Savarkar breathed his last.
Thus, ended the story of a brave son of India accused of being a fanatic but survives as a controversary.
