'Savarkar never opposed the minorities'

Was he a true freedom fighter or did he ask the British for mercy?

Was he involved in the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi?

These two questions rocked Parliament as the ruling National Democratic Alliance unveiled Swantantraveer Vinayak Damodar Savarkar's portrait near Mahatma Gandhi's portrait in Parliament House.

The Opposition boycotted the event.

"The leaders of the Opposition have absolutely no knowledge of my father's contribution to India's freedom struggle," says his 75-year-old son Vishwas Savarkar.

He came down heavily on Congress president Sonia Gandhi for her Italian origins and her poor understanding of Indian history.

"Sonia's mother-in-law Indira Gandhi praised Veer Savarkar. The least she could do was follow her," Savarkar told Associate Editor and Chief Correspondent Syed Firdaus Ashraf.

How does it make you feel to see your father's name dragged into so much controversy?

Today's Opposition leaders have little knowledge of Veer Savarkar's thoughts and the sacrifices he made for India's independence. They don't know this though the leaders of their own parties had earlier praised Savarkar's role in the freedom movement.

Why, in your opinion, are they raising a hue and cry?

Sonia Gandhi, the president of the Congress(I), is an Italian and has little knowledge about India. Till this day, I have no idea whether she is an Indian citizen. She does not know about Savarkar's sacrifices, that is why she is opposing [the installation of the portrait]. The Congress is blindly following her lead.

She came to India after marrying Rajiv Gandhi. It is natural that she has no knowledge of India's history.

Savarkar's opponents say he asked the British for mercy. Can you comment on this?

The letter he sent the British did not mention the words 'pardon' or ‘forgive.' He never regretted his deeds. Yes, he did say in his letter that he should be freed, but that was a strategic decision. He felt he could fight the British better if he was free. That is the reason he wrote that letter. It was a diplomatic stance. But if someone distorts his words, what can I do?

What did he do after his release?

Certain conditions were imposed on him when he was released. He could not move out of Ratnagiri district without the permission of the British. He was told not to give any lectures on politics.

He was very much against the caste system that was practised those days. He wrote many articles about it. For the first time he told people that Dalits, like the upper castes, have the right to take darshan and worship God in the temple.

He was Accused Number 7 at the trial for Mahatma Gandhi's murder.

The judge acquitted him respectfully. But till this day everyone says he was accused of Gandhi's murder. He was accused wrongly. What is the point in repeating that he was accused of Gandhi's murder when the judge acquitted him?

Was there a stigma on Savarkar after Mahatma Gandhi's murder? Is that why he could not succeed in politics after Independence?

It was not a stigma. Actually, his health was never good. He worked for the Hindu Mahasabha after Independence, but never took a leading role.

Did Savarkar say Christians and Muslims could never be part of India because their holy land is outside India and they would be more loyal to those places?

Correct. He said who is a Hindu? A Hindu is one who thinks India is his holy land; he fights for his country, his fatherland. Christians and Muslims don't consider India their holy land. Muslims think Mecca is their holy land. Christians think Jerusalem is their holy land. They stay here but their holy lands are outside India. Therefore, they cannot be considered Hindus of this country.

These people came to India to spread their religion. Hindus will never tolerate that. You read Muslim history, they have always been aggressors. Christians converted people in the guise of preaching to them. So Savarkar opposed them.

Our Constitution says India is a secular country. Don't you think Savarkar's portrait in Parliament challenges the very thought of Indian secularism, considering he had such an extremist view of other religions?

It is not a question of the Constitution. There are some rules to be followed before someone's picture or portrait can be put up in Parliament. Earlier, there was a rule that no leader who had not been a member of Parliament could have his picture in Parliament.

Then, they put Gandhi's picture. Was he a member of Parliament? Why did they put his picture?

There are pictures of other social reformers too in Parliament.

Savarkar is such a big man. What is wrong if his picture finds a place in Parliament? Even Indira Gandhi had praised Savarkar. Why does her daughter-in-law oppose his picture?

Savarkar never opposed the minorities; he only went against them when they talked against India. He said we will not stop people from practising their religion. Look at the Parsis, they have a different religion but they don't look at Persia. They are attached to this country only. Look at Pherozeshah Mehta and Madam Cama.

But there were leaders like Maulana Azad who were nationalist…

(Interrupts) Savarkar gave a slogan at that time, ‘If you [Muslims and Christians] come with us [Hindus], it is well and good. But if you don't come with us, Hindus will go alone and achieve Independence.' Savarkar opposed Jinnah when he asked for Pakistan. What is wrong in that?

What about pro-India Muslim leaders?

There were some Muslim leaders like Sikander Khan who worked with Savarkar in London. But they all changed after some time. These bad experiences proved to him that these people will always be with their religion and remain India's enemy.

Jinnah told Gandhi that if his demand for Pakistan was not met Hindus will be killed and he won't be responsible. Gandhi got scared and agreed. We are still getting a rotten deal from them. Muslims should have remained with India like Parsis did.

Opponents of Savarkar say he was responsible for the country's Partition when the fact is Jinnah was responsible. Now when you have taken away Pakistan for the Muslims, what is remaining is a Hindu Rashtra.

What are your memories of him as a father?

I cannot express my feelings in words. He was a great revolutionary who fought for the independence of our country. He wrote some great books and gave great lectures regarding political benefits for Hindus. He was a great philosopher, thinker and worked for pro-Hindu rights.

Vishwas Savarkar photograph: Jewella C Miranda. Design: Uttam Ghosh