On the birth anniversary of Ganesh Damodar Savarkar—endearingly called Babarao—we pay tribute to a revolutionary whose contributions to India’s freedom movement often remain overshadowed by his younger brother, Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, popularly known as Veer Savarkar. While Veer Savarkar is a well-documented figure, Babarao’s sacrifices, arguably as intense if not greater, deserve equal recognition.
Born on 13 June 1879, in Bhagur near Nashik, Babarao was the eldest of the three Savarkar brothers, followed by Vinayak and Narayan. Tragedy struck early when his mother, Radhabai, died when he was just 13. Soon after, their father succumbed to the plague, leaving Babarao to take responsibility for the household at a young age. Financial constraints forced him to abandon his education, but he never strayed from his patriotic convictions.
Initially on the sidelines of revolutionary activities, Babarao began playing an active role by 1906, taking charge of Abhinav Bharat, the secret society founded by Vinayak, after the latter left for London. Babarao became a driving force in organizing nationalist lectures and public celebrations such as Ganesh Chaturthi, Shivaji Jayanti, and Dussehra, where chants like “Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj ki Jai” resonated through the streets.
During one such event, tensions escalated when police objected to the chanting of Vande Mataram. A confrontation ensued, and Babarao, struck on the head, retaliated by hitting a police officer. He was arrested and brought to trial under Magistrate W. Plunkett in what became known as the Vande Mataram Trial.
In 1908, as Bal Gangadhar Tilak was imprisoned for an article criticizing British rule, he found himself at Dongri Jail, the same facility where Babarao was held. During a brief conversation between them, Babarao expressed his concern for Maharashtra’s future, to which Tilak famously replied, “If Maharashtra is alive, it will survive without one man. If it’s dead, no one man can save it.” It would be their only meeting, as Tilak was soon deported to Mandalay, and Babarao moved to Thane.
Despite continued surveillance, Babarao remained active in the underground movement. Pandurang Bapat, newly returned from London, trained him in bomb-making. In February 1909, Babarao was arrested while receiving an arms shipment sent by Tatya (Vinayak Savarkar) from England. When mocked by a British officer about overthrowing the empire, Babarao responded boldly: “The British have said they’ll grant us freedom when we’re worthy. We’ll earn it by intensifying our yearning for freedom.”
Convicted under Sections 121 and 124A of the Indian Penal Code for treason, Babarao was sentenced to life imprisonment and deported to the Cellular Jail in the Andaman Islands. His property was seized, and he was paraded in chains through Nashik in a yellow cap that signified his sentence to Kalapani. Such was the climate of fear that no one dared show up in solidarity during his deportation.
The news of his sentencing sparked outrage among revolutionaries abroad. On 1 July 1909, Madan Lal Dhingra, a close associate of Vinayak in London, assassinated Sir Curzon Wyllie in protest. Meanwhile, a group of young nationalists—Krishnaji Karve, Anant Kanhere, and Vinayak Deshpande—carried out the assassination of Arthur Jackson, Nashik’s District Magistrate, on 21 December 1909, as retribution for Babarao’s deportation. All three were hanged for their actions.
Babarao arrived at Cellular Jail in 1910, where prisoners endured brutal torture. He was forced to work as an ox, pulling the kolhu (oil mill), and often stood in chains for hours. Solitary confinement and beatings were routine. Many jailers, allegedly targeting Hindu inmates, attempted forced religious conversions. When Vinayak joined him in 1911, the brothers weren’t allowed to speak for two years. Eventually, both began organizing internal resistance to the inhumane treatment of political prisoners.
Years of abuse left Babarao gravely ill. By 1919, he had developed tuberculosis. After relentless pressure from Indian leaders, both brothers were shifted to jails in mainland India by 1921. Babarao was briefly held in Alipore, then Bijapur, where he spent eight months in solitary, and finally Sabarmati, where his health rapidly worsened. Authorities, fearing public backlash if he died in custody, released him in September 1922, thanks to the efforts of his brother Narayan and lawyer Jairamdas Daulatram.
After 13 torturous years in prison, Babarao emerged physically broken but mentally resolute. He openly criticized Gandhian non-violence, arguing that it lacked practicality. He was skeptical of Gandhi’s vision of Hindu-Muslim harmony, having witnessed targeted religious abuse in prison.
Post-release, Babarao threw his energy into Hindu Mahasabha initiatives and founded the Tarun Hindu Sabha (1923–24) to mobilize youth. The organization worked to end caste discrimination and revive Hindu self-respect through shuddhi (reconversion) movements. When K.B. Hedgewar founded the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in 1925, Babarao dissolved his Sabha and merged it into the RSS. Deeply respected by Hedgewar, Babarao helped draft the RSS pledge and played a vital role in its early growth.
Despite his limited formal education, Babarao self-studied Ayurveda, astrology, and yoga. He authored a Marathi book titled “Rashtramimansa va Hindustanche Rashtraswaroop”, examining the idea of Hindu nationhood. Though more spiritual than his rationalist brother Vinayak, the bond between them remained strong.
Babarao lost everything—his home, health, family. His wife Yesubai, rendered homeless after his arrest, died while he was imprisoned. His children died in infancy. Still, his commitment to the nationalist cause never wavered.
In his final days, bedridden in Sangli, Tatya sat beside him and said, “Baba, our lives had one mission, and we’ve fulfilled our duty to our ancestors.” On 16 March 1945, Babarao passed away—his life a testament to courage, resilience, and sacrifice.
Legacy and Reflection
Babarao Savarkar remains a towering yet overlooked figure of India’s freedom movement. Alongside Vinayak and Narayan, he endured unimaginable suffering, driven not by ambition but unwavering belief in national sovereignty and Hindu resurgence. It’s time India remembers not just the famous names—but also the silent revolutionaries like Babarao who paid the price for our freedom.
(This article is based on an X Thread By Lone Wolf Ratnakar)
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