Maharashtra to Restore Savarkar’s Revoked Barrister Degree
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced a new initiative to seek the restoration of Vinayak Damodar Savarkar’s barrister degree, which was revoked by British authorities during the colonial era. Speaking at a function held at Mumbai University, Fadnavis emphasized the symbolic and historical importance of correcting what he described as an unjust punitive action against one of India’s foremost freedom fighters.
Savarkar, a fiery nationalist and ideological architect of Hindutva, was stripped of his degree by the British after being accused of anti-colonial revolutionary activities. The move, at the time, was meant to delegitimize his political standing and intellectual influence. Fadnavis stated that the state government would pursue formal diplomatic and institutional steps to have this revoked qualification reinstated.
CM Fadnavis Calls It Historical Justice
In his address, Fadnavis said the restoration of Savarkar’s degree is not merely an act of recognition but a matter of justice and national pride. He pointed out that this decision would inspire future generations to learn about India’s freedom movement and the sacrifices made by revolutionaries who often faced not just incarceration but institutional erasure.
The Chief Minister also mentioned that the Maharashtra government will work in coordination with the central government and international academic authorities to carry the process forward. This move is in line with other government efforts to memorialize nationalist figures whose roles have often been overshadowed in mainstream narratives.
Reaffirming the Legacy of Veer Savarkar
Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, commonly known as Veer Savarkar, was not just a freedom fighter but a prolific author, political thinker, and the ideological pioneer behind the Hindutva movement. Born in 1883, he played a significant role in galvanizing revolutionary movements against British rule and spent over a decade imprisoned in the Cellular Jail in the Andaman Islands.
Savarkar’s contributions have been polarizing in modern political discourse, but among his supporters and the current state leadership, his stature remains undisputed. Restoring his barrister credentials, many believe, is part of a broader project to correct perceived historical wrongs and elevate nationalistic narratives.
This latest announcement adds to a series of commemorative actions by the Maharashtra government to honor nationalist icons and is likely to trigger both support and debate across political lines.
