Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah addressed a cultural programme in Sri Vijayapuram on Friday to mark 115 years of Swatantryaveer Vinayak Damodar Savarkar’s poem Sagara Pran Talamalala. The event was attended by RSS Sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat and Andaman and Nicobar Islands Lieutenant Governor Admiral (Retd.) D. K. Joshi.
A life-size statue of Savarkar was unveiled during the programme. Shah said the moment held special significance with the unveiling performed by Bhagwat, describing the RSS as the organisation that has carried forward Savarkar’s ideology. He said the Andaman and Nicobar Islands have become a pilgrimage site for Indians, as Savarkar endured some of the toughest years of his life there, and recalled the archival link of the islands with Subhas Chandra Bose and the Azad Hind Fauj. He said Bose had proposed naming the islands ‘Shaheed’ and ‘Swaraj,’ a suggestion fulfilled when Narendra Modi became Prime Minister.
Shah said the new statue would stand as a reminder of Savarkar’s sacrifice and devotion to the country, inspiring future generations. He described Sagara Pran Talamalala as a defining expression of patriotism and recalled Savarkar’s belief that true courage is not the absence of fear but the ability to overcome it.
The Home Minister also released a coffee table book on Savarkar and said many efforts over the years have helped present different facets of his life. He said Savarkar’s personality, shaped by patriotism, social reform, scholarship and his warrior spirit, was too vast to be fully captured in any single work. He added that Savarkar’s convictions were rooted in a form of cultural nationalism that continues to guide India’s direction today.
Shah highlighted Savarkar’s role in challenging social discrimination and said his contributions to literature—including more than 600 words added to Indian languages—reflected his wide-ranging impact. He said Savarkar’s interpretation of the 1857 uprising as the first War of Independence helped reframe national consciousness at a time when the British sought to impose a colonial mindset.
The Minister said India has advanced significantly over the past 12 years under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He referred to the Panch Pran announced during the 75th year of independence, noting that removing the remnants of colonial mentality remains a key national resolve. He said that by 2047, India aims to emerge as a global leader in every field, and the collective effort of 140 crore citizens will shape a secure, prosperous and culturally confident nation.
Shah said Savarkar’s vision of India would be realised when the youth work with the resolve to strengthen national unity and contribute to building a strong and prosperous country. He added that the title “Veer,” associated with Savarkar, was bestowed not by any government but by the people of India.
