Savarkar and Bhagat Singh

 

Bhagat Singh was an admirer of Savarkar 

and got inspired from him

Bhagat Singh had the fourth edition of Savarkar’s book on 1857 secretly published in India. Bhagat Singh was deeply influenced by a small English biography of Savarkar that he read in the Dwarkadas Library of Lahore.

Bhagat Singh and his associates expected new recruits to the HSRA to not only read about the Russian Revolution and the Irish Republican Army, but also the life story of Vinayak Damodar Savarkar. 

Source: Vikram Sampath biography of savarkar

   

Six Quotes from Savarkar’s book Hindu Pad Padashahi were noted down by Bhagat Singh in his own handwriting in his Jail Diary. 

 Passage from Veer Savarkar's Hindu-Pad-Padshahi in Bhagat Singh's hand-writing in his jail diary

"World- lover is the hero whom we do not hesitate a little to call a fierce insurgent, staunch anarchist—the same heroic Savarkar. Coming in the wave of world- love,he used to stop walking on the grass thinking that the soft grass would be mowed under the feet.":Bhagat Singh.

Source: Vikram sampath's biography on savarkar

In March 1926, Bhagat Singh also wrote about Savarkar and his equation with his protégé in London, the martyr Madan Lal Dhingra. 

 Bhagat Singh got some articles of savarkar republished. 

Here is list of few 

Source: Vikram Sampath biography on 

Bhagat Singh wrote the essay ‘Vishwa Prem’ (Universal Love) under the alias of

Balwant Singh, and it was published in two issues of Calcutta’s weekly Matwala,

(Year 2, issues no. 13 and 14). The two issues were published on 15 November

1924 and 22 November 1924.

Where he wrote 

"A lover of Universal Love is the brave individual whom we have no hesitation in

calling an awesome rebel, an uncompromising anarchist – the same Veer Savarkar,

who pacing in his lawn thinking about Universal Love, would stop walking on the

grass, lest he crushed the tender grass under his feet."

Source: The Bhagat Singh reader by chaman lal

Bhagat Singh wrote an article on contribution of Madan Lal Dhingra and also acknowledged Savarkar's role in inspiring him 

Few points are -

Bhagat Singh : 

1) "The story ahead is that the impact of the Swadeshi movement reached England and

as soon as Mr Savarkar reached there, he started an organization by the name of

India House. Madan Lal also became a member of that."

2) Bhagat Singh called Himself 'mere mortals ' in front of Savarkar and Madan lal

3) "There was a brave man, Savarkar, who

supported him (Madan Lal) unreservedly." : Bhagat Singh

Source: The Bhagat Singh reader by Chaman lal

There was attempt from Savarkar brothers to save Bhagat Singh

Babarao (Savarkar's brother) had visited Gandhi at his ashram in Wardha on 15 Feb 1931, a day before Gandhi was to meet Lord Irwin. He pleaded with Gandhi

 to take up the cause of Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru and their clemency with the viceroy.Given Gandhi’s non-committal response, Babarao was miffed and walked away unsatisfied from the meeting.

Source: Vikram Sampath biography on savarkar

Durga Devi Vohra who played an important role in assisting Bhagat Singh’s escape from Lahore following Saunders’s murder in December 1928, by posing as his wife, learnt the Art of Disguise from Narayanrao(savarkar's brother) 's wife

Source : Vikram Sampath biography on savarkar

Also, Savarkar's brother Babarao also came in contact with Rajguru and decided to organize physical training for him at Amravati.

Source: Vikram Sampath biography on savarkar

Savarkar’s house in Ratnagiri that always had the saffron flag atop it as a notable identifier had a black flag hoisted to grieve for the young brave hearts. Savarkar also composed a poem in honour of Bhagat Singh immediately after the news of his execution trickled out. The poem was sung in different parts of Maharashtra where tribute meetings for the martyr were held. Children in Ratnagiri also took out a procession singing this poem.

Source : Vikram Sampath biography on savarkar

Evidences suggest that there were even efforts made by Savarkar to avert the death of Bhagat Singh. 

There was attack on Sweetland on 27 April 1934 TO AVERAGE THE EXECUTION OF BHAGAT SINGH, 

Unfortunately he survived the assassination attempt, Savarkar was arrested in the case later acquitted due to lack of evidence. 

Source: Vikram Sampath biography on savarkar

Waman Baburao Chawan (accused in attack on sweetland) and his associate (Vishnu Dhamle) and were also arrested . Intelligence reports say that both of them were disciples of Savarkar.

Source : National Archives

In 1970 , Bhagat Singh's mother (Mataji Vidyavati Devi) launched a biography of veer Savarkar ji ,Atmahuti written by Shivaramu and published by the Rashtrotthana Sahitya. 

Below is the image from the function

Follow me on Twitter @RitikHind