Opinion - Letters to the Editor   

Heroes and anti-heroes

Sir, — I was pained to read Supriya RoyChowdhury's article `Heroes and anti-heroes' (March 17) which appears to me the ultimate in condemning the Central Government's decision to have Vinayak Damodar Savarkar's portrait in the Central Hall of Parliament. The writer has questioned the wisdom of the President, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, in agreeing to unveil the portrait. I witnessed India's freedom struggle and have read the biography of and books by Veer Savarkar. In my opinion, the sacrifices and services and the greatness of Savarkar are more than the public image painted by Ms. RoyChowdhury.

The British were never worried about Gandhi and Nehru, they were mortally scared of revolutionaries such as Subhas Chandra Bose (who left India incognito to pursue his patriotic activities), Aurobindo Ghose (who settled in Pondicherry, then a French territory), and Vinayak Damodar Savarkar (who preferred to stay, suffer, and struggle in India). More than the so-called public image, what matters with great nation-builders and patriots is their dedication, sacrifices, and love for the country. If the Government has decided to honour Savarkar, it has only atoned for the sins committed in the past.

Bharat R. Sant,

Hyderabad

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