Arun Shourie’s Book Exposes the Controversial Legacy of BJP’s Hindutva Ideology

A new book by senior Indian journalist and former minister Arun Shourie has ignited a political storm by challenging the narrative surrounding Vinayak Damodar Savarkar.

In his latest book, The New Icon Savarkar and the Fact, Arun Shourie critically examines Savarkar’s ideology, questioning his portrayal as a nationalist hero by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The book has sparked heated debates, with Shourie accusing the BJP of attempting to erase Mahatma Gandhi’s legacy while promoting Savarkar’s divisive and extremist views.

Shourie, who previously served as a minister in Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s BJP-led government, has meticulously researched Savarkar’s life using his writings, British archives, and contemporary records. He challenges the widely accepted notion of Savarkar’s role in India’s freedom struggle, exposing several misleading claims associated with his legacy.

One of the most shocking revelations in the book is about Savarkar’s repeated mercy petitions to the British government. According to Shourie, Savarkar pleaded for leniency and promised loyalty to colonial rulers, a fact that contradicts his image as a fierce revolutionary. The book also sheds light on Savarkar’s endorsement of violence and his controversial stance on Muslims and Christians in India, which Shourie argues was instrumental in shaping the ideology of Hindutva.

Speaking to the BBC, Shourie emphasized that Savarkar’s ideas are being promoted today more aggressively than ever before. He accused the BJP-led government of using them to erase Gandhi’s influence and push India toward a saffronized state. In the final pages of his book, Shourie argues for preserving Hinduism from the distortions of Hindutva, drawing a clear distinction between religious identity and political extremism.

Another explosive claim in the book concerns Savarkar’s alleged involvement in the conspiracy to assassinate Mahatma Gandhi. Shourie cites historical testimonies, including statements from a government witness in the Gandhi assassination case, suggesting that Nathuram Godse and Narayan Apte sought Savarkar’s blessings before carrying out the assassination.

Additionally, Shourie criticizes Savarkar’s role in the British strategy to divide India. He describes how Savarkar’s ideology, which promoted religious divisions, weakened India’s secular fabric. According to Shourie, if Savarkar’s vision of a Hindu Rashtra were fully implemented, it would transform India into a state governed by religious majoritarianism, undermining the country’s democratic and pluralistic values.

With these revelations, The New Icon Savarkar and the Fact challenges the dominant political narrative surrounding Savarkar, prompting fresh debates on history, nationalism, and secularism in India. The book has not only questioned the BJP’s ideological agenda but has also forced a reassessment of Savarkar’s true legacy in India’s struggle for independence.