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"The nation which forgets its defenders will be itself forgotten": Asilatha Godse, also known as Himani Savarkar was the daughter of Gopal Godse and niece of Nathuram Godse who preserved every book of Savarkar when the Congress was destroying his work
Asilatha Godse, also known as Himani Savarkar, was born on March 31, 1947, in Pune, India. She was the daughter of Gopal Godse and the niece of Nathuram Godse, the man responsible for the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi. Himani Savarkar's early life was marred by her father's imprisonment for his involvement in the conspiracy to assassinate Gandhi when she was just 10 months old.
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Himani Savarkar's life took a turn when she married V. D. Savarkar's nephew. Initially, she pursued a career as an architect and established herself in the field. However, in 2000, she joined the Hindu Mahasabha, a right-wing political party in India, and became actively involved with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), a nationalist organization. In 2004, she contested the Lok Sabha elections from the Kashba Peth constituency in Pune district but was unsuccessful in her bid for office. Nonetheless, her political journey continued, and in 2008, she was elected as the President of the Hindu Mahasabha and also became the President of Abhinav Bharat, a Hindu organization.
Abhinav Bharat gained notoriety when its members were convicted for their involvement in the Malegaon bomb blast in 2008. Himani Savarkar, as the group's leader, defended the actions of Abhinav Bharat by stating, "If we can have a bullet for a bullet, then why not a blast for a blast," justifying the attacks carried out by the organization.
Tragically, Himani Savarkar passed away on October 11, 2015, after battling a brain tumor. Her son, Satyaki Savarkar, a software engineer, spoke highly of her dedication and tireless efforts in supporting those associated with Abhinav Bharat. He highlighted her role in providing legal aid, keeping abreast of court trials, and assisting the families of those involved. Satyaki acknowledged that his mother had faced numerous challenges throughout her life, beginning with being neglected due to her father's actions. However, she overcame these obstacles, earning a degree in Architecture, running her own business for 25 years, and becoming an influential leader within the Hindu Mahasabha. In 2000, she left her business behind and dedicated herself entirely to the Hindutva movement.
Himani Savarkar's upbringing was shaped by the fact that her father, Gopal Godse, was incarcerated when she was only 10 months old. Gopal Godse, along with Nathuram Godse, was convicted for their involvement in the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi. Being the niece of Nathuram Godse and the daughter of Gopal Godse, Himani Savarkar played an active role in organizations such as the Hindu Mahasabha and Abhinav Bharat, which were established by the freedom fighter Vinayak Damodar Savarkar. Her mother, Asilata Godse, was born in 1947 and tragically murdered by her father, Gopal Godse, who was imprisoned for his role in the conspiracy to assassinate Gandhi.
Himani Savarkar's early years were marked by her father's arrest and subsequent 18-year prison sentence. Despite the challenging circumstances, she grew up in Pune, India, and eventually married into the Savarkar family. Her father, Gopal Godse, and her uncle, Nathuram Godse, were involved in the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi on January 30, 1948. Nathuram Godse was executed for his crime, while Gopal Godse received a prison sentence.
Himani Savarkar, at the age of 67, was a prominent figure within the Akhil Bharatiya Hindu Mahasabha, a right-wing Hindu nationalist organization led by Swatantryaveer Savarkar. She was hospitalized for six months due to her association with Abhinav Bharat, a group linked to the 2008 Malegaon bombing.
During a politically charged period, the Congress Party allegedly attempted to implicate Himani Savarkar in the Malegaon blast case of 2006. These accusations aimed to tarnish her reputation and undermine her efforts to promote Savarkar's teachings and writings. However, she remained resolute in her mission to protect and disseminate his valuable works.
It is worth noting that Himani Savarkar was the daughter of Gopal Godse and the niece of Nathuram Godse, both of whom were involved in the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi. She strongly defended her father, stating that the controversy surrounding the family was caused by those who had treated him disrespectfully.
Amidst efforts by the Congress Party and its supporters to suppress Savarkar's ideas and literature, Himani Savarkar took it upon herself to preserve every book written by Vinayak Damodar Savarkar. She recognized the importance of safeguarding his intellectual contributions, even when they were being systematically destroyed by those loyal to the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty. In an endeavor to make Savarkar's writings accessible to the masses, she established a platform called https://savarkarsmarak.com, where anyone could freely read his books.
Himani Savarkar's relentless dedication to the preservation and dissemination of Savarkar's works exemplifies her unwavering commitment to promoting his ideas and ideologies. Despite the challenges she faced and the attempts made to suppress her efforts, she persisted in her mission until her passing in 2015. Through her endeavors, Himani Savarkar left behind a lasting legacy, ensuring that future generations would have the opportunity to engage with and appreciate the invaluable writings of Vinayak Damodar Savarkar.
She witnessed firsthand the hardships endured by Savarkar and the atrocities committed against the Brahmin community following Mahatma Gandhi's assassination. Alongside her architectural profession, she dedicated herself to the cause of upholding Savarkar's work and ideologies.
Himani Savarkar's connection to the Sangh Parivar, a family of Hindu nationalist organizations, is significant. Retired Major Ramesh Upadhyay, another prominent leader of Abhinav Bharat, was implicated in the Malegaon case and joined the Hindu Mahasabha. He currently serves as the president of the Mumbai unit of the former Bharatiya Janata Party soldier cell. Nathuram Godse, despite ideological differences with the RSS, never completely distanced himself from the organization.
Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, Himani Savarkar's grandfather and the founder of the Hindutva ideology, was a prominent leader within the Akhil Bharatiya Hindu Mahasabha. Himani, as the President of Abhinav Bharat, carried on her family's legacy and played an active role in promoting their ideologies. In September 2007, she discussed the organization's goals, including the concept of Akhanda Bharat (united India), during an interview.
The last rites of Himani Savarkar, a leader of Abhinav Bharat, were conducted at the Vaikunth crematorium in the presence of several Hindutva activists. Her funeral was attended by individuals who had close ties to the Savarkar and Godse families, and the ceremony provided an opportunity for people to share their personal accounts of the Savarkars.
In conclusion, Himani Savarkar, also known as Asilatha Godse, was a prominent figure in the Hindu Mahasabha and Abhinav Bharat. She came from a family with deep ties to the Hindu nationalist movement, being the daughter of Gopal Godse and the niece of Nathuram Godse, who was responsible for the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi. Himani Savarkar dedicated her life to promoting Hindutva ideologies and played an active role within these organizations. Despite facing challenges and controversies, she remained steadfast in her support for the Hindutva movement until her passing in 2015.
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