Sri Vijayapuram|( Andaman & Nicobar): Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday delivered a powerful address, paying glowing tributes to the legendary freedom fighter Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, emphatically positioning him as the foundational ideologue of ‘Cultural Nationalism’—a concept he declared is now guiding the Narendra Modi-led government.
Speaking at a momentous event in Sri Vijayapuram, commemorating the completion of 115 years of Savarkar’s poem collection, ‘Sagara Prana Talamalla’, HM Shah passionately urged the propagation of the revolutionary’s thoughts.
“The ideology of Savarkar should be propagated and shared by parents with their children,” the Home Minister asserted, crediting Savarkar for defining and laying the groundwork for ‘Cultural Nationalism.’
Shah lauded Savarkar’s rare and versatile brilliance, describing him as a towering figure who was both a “writer as well as a fighter,” a “born patriot and also a sage-seer,” a social reformer, and a poet.
“Proficiency in both prose and poetry is attained by very few writers,” said HM Shah. “I have read his literature very thoroughly, and even today I cannot decide whether he was a good poet or a writer; he was excellent in both forms. Later, he also became a great linguist.”
The Home Minister spoke profoundly about the significance of the Cellular Jail, where the unveiling of Savarkar’s statue by RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat took place. “This statue of Savarkar Ji is a symbol of the sacrifice, resolve, and dedication to Mother India by Veer Savarkar Ji in the Cellular Jail,” Shah stated.
Emphasized the statue’s lasting legacy Shah said “It will convey a message to generations for many decades to come to draw inspiration from Savarkar Ji’s life. The message of Veer Savarkar’s courage, the message of devotion to duty towards the motherland, his quality of steadfastness, and the vision of national unity, security, and a prosperous nation — the dreams of all these will be enshrined by this statue.”
Shah transformed the perception of the infamous prison, noting that before Independence, any prisoner brought there was considered forgotten. “Today, this place has become a pilgrimage site for all of us Indians because Veer Savarkar Ji spent his difficult time here,” he declared. HM Shah highlighted the sacred nature of the Andaman-Nicobar Islands, a “sacred land of penance” where freedom fighters from across India made the ultimate sacrifice. He also connected the island group to another national icon, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. “This place is also connected to the memories of Netaji Subhas Babu. The Azad Hind Fauj had liberated the Andaman-Nicobar Islands first, and Subhas Babu had stayed here for two days. He had suggested naming this island group ‘Shaheed’ and ‘Swaraj’, which PM Modi has implemented.”
Concluding his address, Shah reiterated the profound importance of the day, stating the unveiling of the statue by Dr. Mohan Bhagwat, the head of the organization that truly advances Savarkar’s ideology, makes the event “eternally memorable.”
