Today:

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V.D. Savarkar and The Indian War of Independence, 1857

IWI

Today, we will discuss…

• V.D. Savarkar’s background

• Historical Context in which IWI was written (198-201)

• Definition of Swaraj

• Importance of “1857”

Before we move on to Savarkar…

• Please remember that DOING includes:1. Political Participation2. Resistance3. Public Expression4. Ethical Interactions

(AntigoneMichael KohlhaasGandhiSavarkar…)

DOING Gandhi Savarkar

Political Participation

Resistance

Public Expression

Ethical Interactions

DOING Antigone Kohlhaas Gandhi Savarkar

Political Participn.

Resist

Public

Xpressn

Ethical Interactn

Themes Antigone Kohlhaas Gandhi Savarkar

Truth

Family

State

Etc.

To help you read IWI, consider the following…

1. “Author’s Introduction”, (V.D.Savarkar)

2. “Original Publisher’s Preface” (?)

3. “The Story of This History” (G.M. Joshi and Bal Savarkar)

4. Chapter 1: “The Volcano” (V.D. Savarkar)

The importance of writing…

(See “Public Writing”, Course Guide & Writer’s Handbook).

Location matters…

Translation matters…• M.K. Gandhi

• V.D. Savarkar

• Trans+Latio

• Please see:

GujaratiEnglishMany +

MarathiEnglishMany +

To carry meaning across different languages (167)

“Writing and Translation,” Course Guide and Writer’s Handbook, 167-170.

Two Themes to Consider when reading the authors*

1. Public/CounterpublicIs Savarkar writing for a public or

counterpublic?

2. Argument/Counterargument Is Savarkar providing an argument or a

counterargument?

A Brief Background

• Full Name: Vinayak Damodar Savarkar• 1883-1966• Privileged Family: caste, class• Studies Law• Gets a scholarship to become a

Barrister in London• Letter of Recommendation by B.G. Tilak• Based in London, 1905-1910

Images of Savarkar

Shyamaji Krishnavarma

Background, con’t…• Member of a revolutionary organization

• Young India Society (Abhinav Bharat Society)

• 1905/6: Starts giving public lectures in Hyde Park

• Engages with revolutionaries from Scotland, Ireland, Egypt, Russia, France, Germany, etc.

The Oath of Abhinav Bharat

• In the name of God,In the name of Mother India,In the name of all the Martyrs that have shed their blood for Mother India,By the Love, innate in all men and women, that I bear to the land of my birth,wherein the sacred ashes of my forefathers, and which is the cradle of my children,By the tears of Indian Mothers for their children whom the Foreigner has enslaved, imprisoned, tortured, and killed,

Oath, con’t

• I, …Convinced that without Absolute Political Independence or Swaraj my country can never rise to the exalted position among the nations of the earth which is Her due,And Convinced also that that Swaraj can never be attained except by the waging of a bloody and relentless war against the Foreigner…

First Flag of India“Vande Mataram”=bow to the mother

Bhikaji Cama

Madan Lal Dhingra

Madan Lal Dhingra

Savarkar’s Writings in London• 1905: Translates the writings of Italian nationalist G.

Mazzini (Banned)

• Essays & Newspaper Articles: UK, US, India

• Date Unknown: Writes a history of Sikhs (Lost/Destroyed)

• 1907: IWI finished

• 1909: IWI published

How ideas can circulate…

More on Savarkar

• Arrested in 1910 for sedition

• Convicted and sentenced to 2 life terms

• Released in 1937

Why 1857?

• Interprets as a Revolutionary War and a War of Independence

• Influenced by writings on the French and American Revolutions

• Importance of creating a historical consciousness

• To inspire future revolutions

Themes for next week

• Contrasting Ideas about defining swaraj

• Contrasting Ideas of achieving swaraj

• Meets Gandhi in London

• Gandhi writes Hind Swaraj after his meetings with Savarkar and his group

• Is the “Reader” Savarkar? (not sure; Gandhi never confirms this point)