What is the hard truth in Indian history which is hidden from us?

The truth I'm about to share from Indian history might surprise you. It's the story of an amazing person who faced tough times and worked hard for his country's freedom.

In 1915, Mahatma Gandhi came back to India after being in South Africa for more than 20 years. But before Gandhi's return, in 1911, a young man named Vinayak Damodar Savarkar was imprisoned. He endured difficult torture, doing heavy work like replacing bullocks in a crusher, pouring oil, giving out ropes, and grinding peels. Despite his pain, Savarkar taught and inspired his fellow prisoners. He even used nails and thorns to write on the cell walls.

Savarkar went through this suffering for 11 long years. Imagine spending all day turning a crusher instead of resting, and enduring torment by changing sides at night. Even in his lowest moments, he thought about ending his life, like many other prisoners did. But he stayed strong.

The other prisoners respected Savarkar a lot. They insisted on cleaning his things, even when he refused. The British knew he had influence, so they tried to isolate him from others. But he stopped them from taking their own lives.

Some people say Savarkar begged for mercy, apologized, and surrendered to the British. But think about this: Didn't brave revolutionaries like Ramprasad Bismil also apologize for certain incidents? Would great freedom fighters like Nehru and Gandhi have said sorry to the British? Can we judge them only by this?

When a lion leaps, sometimes it takes a step back. We can't fully understand what Savarkar did and why during those tough times. Some people pretend to know, but they don't really.

Let's not forget the heroes hidden in Indian history. Many figures like Nanasaheb Peshwa, Maharani Lakshmibai, and Veer Kunwar Singh have been forgotten. The 1857 uprising was revealed by a young man. He worked hard to find the truth, showing it was the first struggle for freedom.

Believe it or not, there's a book that was banned before it even came out. The British were scared of it and tried to stop it from reaching India. But when it did, it became a symbol of revolution, inspiring many to fight for freedom.

Veer Savarkar fought the British with his writing and his mind. He worked for Dalits and spent 11 years in prison. He revived nationalism and Hindutva. He was an amazing writer.

What did Savarkar get in return? Insults. People like Nehru accused him of being involved in Gandhi's murder. He was arrested, not given a pension, troubled, and even forbidden from public meetings. This happened in the very country he wanted to free.

But when Lal Bahadur Shastri became Prime Minister, he made sure Savarkar got a pension. Shastri gave hope to prisoners at Kalapani, saying it would become a holy place one day. Now, if you go to the Andaman Islands, you'll see the 'Veer Savarkar International Airport.' His statue is in the Cellular Jail, where the Prime Minister meditates in the room where Savarkar was once locked.

Let's honor the strong spirit of Veer Savarkar.