V. D. Savarkar

Vinayak Damodar Savarkar
Photograph of Savarkar, circa 1920's
Born	28 May 1883 Bhagur, Nasik district, Bombay Presidency, British India
Died	26 February 1966(1966-02-26) (aged 82) Bombay, Maharashtra, India
Cause of death	Fast unto death Prayopavesa
Nationality	Indian
Alma mater	University of Bombay Gray's Inn
Known for	Hindutva, Hindu nationalism, Indian independence movement
Political party	Hindu Mahasabha
Spouse(s)	Yamunabai
Children	3
Parent(s)	Damodar Savarkar Yashoda Savarkar
Relatives	Ganesh Damodar Savarkar (brother), Narayan Damodar Savarkar (brother), Maina Damodar Savarkar (sister)

Savarkar
Court	Permanent Court of Arbitration
Full case name	Arrest and Return of Savarkar (France v. Great Britain)
Decided	24 February 1911
Court membership
Judges sitting	M. Beernaert, president, elected by panel Louis Renault Earl of Desart G. Gram Alexander de Savornin Lohman
Case opinions
Decision by	Unanimous panel

Vinayak Damodar Savarkar ( pronunciation ) (28 May 1883 – 26 February 1966, commonly known as Swatantryaveer Savarkar) was an Hindu pro-independence activist,lawyer, politician, poet, writer and playwright. He advocated the reconversion of the converted Hindus back to Hindu religion. Savarkar coined the term Hindutva (Hinduness) to create a collective "Hindu" identity as an essence of Bharat (India). His political philosophy had the elements of utilitarianism, rationalism and positivism, humanism and universalism, pragmatism and realism. . Savarkar was also an atheist and a staunch rationalist who disapproved of orthodox beliefs in all religions

Savarkar's revolutionary activities began while studying in India and England, where he was associated with the India House and founded student societies including Abhinav Bharat Society and the Free India Society, as well as publications espousing the cause of complete Indian independence by revolutionary means. Savarkar published The Indian War of Independence about the Indian rebellion of 1857 that was banned by British authorities. He was arrested in 1910 for his connections with the revolutionary group India House. Following a failed attempt to escape while being transported from Marseilles, Savarkar was sentenced to two life terms of imprisonment totaling fifty years and was moved to the Cellular Jail in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, but released in 1921.