VP Venkaiah Naidu, PM Narendra Modi pay tribute to freedom fighter Vinayak Damodar Savarkar on his birth anniversary

NEW DELHI: Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday paid tributes to freedom fighter and Hindutva ideologue Vinayak Damodar Savarkar on his birth anniversary, saying he motivated several people to join the freedom struggle.

Taking to Twitter, Naidu described Savarkar as a “multi-dimensional personality - a freedom fighter, social reformer, writer, and a political thinker.”

My tributes to the great son of Mother India Vinayak Damodar Savarkar on his birth anniversary today.

Veer Savarkar was a multidimensional personality - a freedom fighter, social reformer, writer & political thinker. #VeerSavarkar pic.twitter.com/ZTIVCS6j7o — Vice President of India (@VPSecretariat) May 28, 2020

"Savarkar envisioned a casteless India and started one of the most powerful social reform movements against untouchability," the Vice President said in a series of tweets.

During his imprisonment in the Cellular Jail, Savarkar was subjected to harsh treatment and solitary confinement, Naidu recalled.

Savarkar envisioned a casteless India and started one of the most powerful social reform movements against untouchability. #VeerSavarkar — Vice President of India (@VPSecretariat) May 28, 2020

"His indomitable spirit and commitment to free his motherland from foreign oppression will be always remembered," he said.

Today's youth must take inspiration from his life and ideals and strive to build a strong, prosperous and inclusive India, Naidu said.

Meanwhile, PM Modi hailed Savarkar for motivating several people to join the freedom struggle.

"On his Jayanti, I bow to the courageous Veer Savarkar. We remember him for his bravery, motivating several others to join the freedom struggle and emphasis on social reform," the Prime Minister wrote on Twitter.

On his Jayanti, I bow to the courageous Veer Savarkar. We remember him for his bravery, motivating several others to join the freedom struggle and emphasis on social reform. pic.twitter.com/o83mXmgp1S — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 28, 2020

He also shared a clip of his May 2018 "Mann ki Baat" radio programme in which he had referred to Savarkar.

"It is indeed sad that we kept on calling the events of 1857 only as a rebellion or a soldiers' mutiny for a very long time. It was Veer Savarkar who boldly expostulated by writing that whatever happened in 1857 was not a revolt but was indeed the First War of Independence, he had said.

Vinayak Damodar Savarkar was born in 1883.