On May 28, which marked the occasion of Veer Savarkar’s birth anniversary, actor Randeep Hooda released a new poster of his upcoming film, ‘Swatantrya Veer Savarkar’. He plays the titular role in the film, which he has directed as well.
However, now a new controversy has generated because of the tweet where he claimed that Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, along with Bhagat Singh and Khudiram Bose, was inspired by Savarkar. Now, the Bose family has strongly opposed the claim.
On Veer Savarkar’s 140th birth anniversary, the makers of ‘Swatantrya Veer Savarkar’ shared the poster, and Randeep Hooda wrote, “The most wanted Indian by the British. The inspiration behind revolutionaries like - Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, Bhagat Singh & Khudiram Bose.Who was #VeerSavarkar? Watch his true story unfold! Presenting @RandeepHooda in & as #SwantantryaVeerSavarkar In Cinemas 2023 (sic)” Here’s the tweet:
Now, Chandra Kumar Bose, the grandnephew of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, has mentioned that Randeep Hooda’s claim was a publicity stunt and nothing else. He told India Today, "Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose was inspired by only two great personalities. One is Swami Vivekananda, who was his spiritual Guru, and the second person was freedom fighter Deshbandhu Chitranjan Das, who was his political mentor. Apart from these two people, I don't think Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose was inspired by any other freedom fighters. Savarkar was a great personality, a freedom fighter, but Savarkar's ideology and the ideology of Netaji were diametrically opposite. So, I don't see any reason why Netaji would follow Savarkar’s principles and ideology. He actually opposed Savarkar.”
He further added, “Netaji, in his writing, clearly stated that we cannot expect anything from Savarkar and Muhammad Ali Jinnah in the freedom movement against British imperialist power. He also said that nothing can be expected from the Hindu Mahasabha and Muhammad Ali Jinnah in the freedom movement of India. Netaji was a very secular leader. He opposed those people who were communal. Communalism was completely opposed by both the brothers - Sharad Chandra Bose and Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. So how do you expect Netaji to follow or support Savarkar? Prior to going to Cellular jail, Savarkar was a revolutionary in India's freedom movement. He wanted India's freedom, but later on he changed."
Reacting to Randeep Hooda’s film, he said, “The claim made by Randeep Hooda is absolutely incorrect. He is a famous actor; I'd like to request him to project the correct history, the true history of India's freedom struggle. I think it would be great injustice to the youth if you project wrong history. It is completely incorrect to state Subhas Chandra Bose, Shahid Bhagat Singh and Khudiram Bose were inspired by and followed Savarkar's ideology. Rather he strongly opposed his ideology.”
Calling the claim an ‘offence’, he signed off, “The film’s director is trying to create a controversy so that the film gets some mileage. But projecting wrong history to get some mileage is an offence. It should not be allowed and I feel everybody has the right to project anything, but I don't think no one has a right to project a wrong history.”
