‘A more nuanced portrayal of Savarkar that challenges simplified interpretations’

Indian activist Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, a controversial figure often linked to the concept of Hindutva, was the subject of a talk by academic Janaki Bakhle at the Institute of Business Administration’s City Campus, Karachi, with IBA Executive Director Dr S Akbar Zaidi, who moderated the session.

In her presentation about her book, "Savarkar and the Making of Hindutva”, Bakhle emphasized that Savarkar's ideology, frequently labelled as ‘Hindu fundamentalism’, emerged from a historical context rather than spontaneously.

She argued that understanding Savarkar necessitates examining the political and social landscapes of over a century ago, particularly his upbringing in Maharashtra, where Muslims were a minority.

Bakhle highlighted Savarkar’s pronounced anti-Muslim stance, influenced by regional history rather than direct encounters with large Muslim populations. She contrasted his views with the broader Indian nationalist discourse, which often centered around figures like Gandhi and Nehru, situating Savarkar on the nationalist spectrum’s far right.

Savarkar, a revolutionary in the early 1900s, formed secret societies and was known for his anti-colonial activism, yet he was under consistent surveillance. Bakhle noted that much of his writing was encoded for fellow revolutionaries, complicating her research.

Despite his limited exposure to Muslims in Maharashtra, Savarkar harboured entrenched negative beliefs about them, viewing them as untrustworthy and fanatical — ideas paralleling British colonial narratives post-1857.

Bakhle proposed that Savarkar's ideological framework allowed for a convoluted perspective that balanced progressive views on issues like gender and caste while maintaining staunchly regressive attitudes toward Muslims. This dualism permitted scholars to selectively engage with his legacy, often overlooking the full scope of his beliefs. Bakhle also stressed the importance of accessing Savarkar's writings in Marathi, as most existing literature failed to consider this crucial perspective in understanding his complex character. Her exploration aimed to reveal a more nuanced portrayal of Savarkar that challenges simplified interpretations.