Where The Twain Met

Context: Gandhi and Savarkar shared goal of independence, differed on means.

Gandhi vs Savarkar: A comparative analysis

• As freedom fighters:
  • Gandhian stream of nation-making: Gandhi made our freedom struggle a true “national” struggle, which embraced multiple regions, religions and classes. He fathered idea of equality. He gave us non-violence as a method to achieve independence by changing the heart of oppressor.
  • Savarkar and stream of revolutionaries: His ideas based on creating a strong national character by nurturing the individual with the cultural and ideological roots of Hindu culture would lead to an assertive nation that was militarised — all of this necessary to fight the Empire.
• Religious outlook: Both were born in traditional Hindu families. Both were conscious of their Hindu identity and were orthodox Hindus.
  • Gandhi was more assertive: He described himself as a Sanatani Hindu and cow worshipper.
  • Savarkar was more progressive: He was averse to the ritualistic aspects of the Hindu religion.
• Views on state:
  • Gandhi championed cause of Ramrajya, an ideal state where equality and justice prevail.
  • For Savarkar, it was the Hindu Rashtra in which anyone who is born in the motherland and loves his country is a Hindu irrespective of their religion.
  • For Savarkar, Hinduness was not sectarian or religious but a cultural identity emanating from a shared history and bloodline.
• Both were extensive writers: Gandhi’s Hind Swaraj and Savarkar’s The Indian War for Independence on the 1857 uprising.
• Both were proactive social reformers: Both opposed untouchability.
  • Savarkar’s massive social reform project in Ratnagiri: He worked to uproot caste system, advocated inter-caste dining, inter-caste and inter-regional marriages, widow remarriage, female education and temple entry for all castes.
  • Gandhiji was for reforming Hinduism from within and eradicating caste-based differences.
• Ideas on independence:
  • Gandhi developed idea of complete independence gradually: From 1915 to 1930, Gandhi’s idea of independence was not “complete independence”.
  • During the Non-Cooperation Movement, his idea of independence was at the most dominion status within British Empire.
  • Savarkar was unambiguous in his conception of independence — complete independence.
• Means to independence:
  • For Gandhi, the end had to be justified through the means: Non-violence, satyagraha, “changing the mind of the oppressor” were essential.
  • For Savarkar, the goal of complete and immediate independence was more important than the means. These means could be non-violent, fighting openly with the British and even aligning with their enemies.