Framing Savarkar: Reading the Author’s Introduction and the Publishers’ Notes to Savarkar’s 'Indian War of Independence -1857'

Savarkar was not only a revolutionary, but also one who could reflect on the revolutionary life. The earlier generation of 1857 perhaps lacked the ability or at the very least, the opportunity to reflect on their action, because their historical moment in the 19th century could not yet provide that capacity for self-reflection. So while 1857 might have left its legacy of attraction and inspiration, it did not leave a legacy of long study in libraries. This is why Savarkar and the historical moment from 1909 onward is decisively different from an earlier age of pure (but unreflective) heroism. Savarkar makes it clear that for him historiography is not meant to be objective (and hence neutral) but a catalyst to calibrated action, and indeed a testament to human actional agency. [The second of a three part series.]