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| 'Only then will my soul rest to peace' | | | E.Rajesh Pathak | 11/23/2019 10:26:17 PM |
| | To maintain harmony among the people festivals come as most natural way, encompassing all. Great revolutionary Veer Savarkar knew this importance of festivals, and made full use of them when time came. Due to his revolutionary activities against British govt. to liberate country Savarkar was awarded two life imprisonment, and was kept under most inhuman condition in far and isolated Andaman island. But after 13 years British set him free on 1964 from the jail. However this freedom was restrictive; he was interned to live in Ratnagiri, a small city of Maharashtra. Living in the jail he had concluded after going through deep thinking that root cause of country's slavery is disorganized people divided on the line of caste, creed and sect. To get the people rid out of this state he initiated different social activities promoting harmony. The festivals of holi, rakashabandhan and such other would come for him as the opportunities to make visit to such localities which were resided by socially neglected and economically weaker section of people. Once with his wife and some fellow volunteers Savarkar went to Valmiki basti where lived mostly the scavengers, and the occasion was the festival of rakshabandhan. Having the renowned personality like Veer Savarkar amidst themselves their joy knew no bound. His presence was one to enhance the honor of their community, their locality. Then there went on the phase of exchanging salutation, introduction, and greetings. Little later appeared the women folk holding their trays containing sweets, rakhis, and handkerchiefs and other materials meant for the occasion. One by one the sisters first perform aarti and then put tilak[ sacred mark] on the foreheads of the volunteers and Savarker. And as they tied rakhis on their arms, Savarker could not hold his emotions and tears began to drop. In shear spontaneity the words burst out of his mouth -"I wish I would see untouchability removed. After my death may those giving shoulder to my coffin be comprised of businessmen, of Dhed and Dome [the so-called low-castes], apart from Brahmins! Only on being consigned to flame by them all will my soul rest to peace." |
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