Mahatma Gandhi and V D Savarkar - Ideological Comparison
iasparliament
October 18, 2021
What is the issue?
The 1911 to 1947 paradigm of the Indian freedom struggle was primarily dominated by two individuals - Mahatma Gandhi and V D Savarkar (Veer - the braveheart). Here is an overview of their ideologies.
What is the ideological significance of the freedom struggle?
Besides achieving independence, the freedom struggle also involved nurturing the ideas and values for nation-building.
The Indian freedom struggle too consisted of different ideologies encompassing the right, left and centre.
It was indeed a broad socio-economic, cultural movement with the participation of reformists, revolutionaries, constitutionalists, loyalists, progressives and even regressives.
Besides the Gandhian stream of nation-making, the other parallel but equally forceful stream was the stream of revolutionaries.
What were the key contributions of Gandhi?
“Fathered” many of the ideas that are the guiding principles for present-day Bharat.
Made the freedom struggle a true “national” struggle.
Promoted the idea of equality.
Gave non-violence as a method to achieve independence by changing the heart of the oppressor.
What were the other key ideas of Savarkar?
He evolved an enlightened view of Hinduism - Creating a strong national character by nurturing the individual with the cultural and ideological roots of Hindu culture.
For his strong ideas and valour, Savarkar was charged with sedition, extradited and sentenced to transportation for two life terms, amounting to a 50-year sentence.
After he was released with conditional confinement from the jail, Savarkar was engaged in a massive social reform project in Ratnagiri.
He worked to uproot the caste system, advocated inter-caste dining, inter-caste and inter-regional marriages, widow remarriage, female education and temple entry for all castes.
Savarkar was totally against the idea of the bifurcation of India. He hailed the glorious past and culture of India to borrow strength from it.
