Attention Punekars! You Can Visit VD Savarkar’s Hostel Room In Fergusson College For Free Tomorrow On His Death Anniversary |
Just like every other year, Hindutva ideologue Veer Savarkar’s hostel room in Fergusson College, Pune, will be kept open for public viewing on February 26, 2025, on his death anniversary.
For the uninitiated, Savarkar studied at Fergusson College from 1902-1905 in room number 17, which is open for visitors to visit and pay respects on Wednesday.
That room is opened for viewing every year on the occasion of his birth and death anniversaries. Many items used by Savarkar have also been preserved in this room. While staying in this room at that time, he wrote many poems and started many campaigns or movements. However, he was removed from this room in 1905 by the then principal of the college, Wrangler Paranjpe.
Savarkar came to Pune from Nashik city in 1902 for education. He took admission in the famous Fergusson College in Pune and completed his degree course at this college. From 1902 to 1905, he lived in room number 17 of the hostel at Fergusson College. He had a great influence on the students of the college.
When Lokmanya Tilak returned to Pune, students approached him with the idea of celebrating Holi with foreign clothes, to which Tilak advised caution but also encouraged Savarkar to collect a large amount of foreign clothes for the celebration. Tilak instructed that no bonfires should be lit during the celebration. Savarkar and students from Maharashtra Vidyalaya collected foreign clothes and organized a procession across Pune, culminating in the lighting of Holi on October 7, 1905.
Both Savarkar and Tilak gave passionate speeches, and the fame of the Holi celebration even reached England and spread nationwide. However, the incident had repercussions for Savarkar. The principal of Fergusson College, Wrangler Paranjpe, expelled him from the hostel and imposed a fine of ten rupees. Savarkar’s colleagues raised more than the fine amount and ensured he paid it. In response, Lokmanya Tilak wrote an article in Kesari titled “He is not our Guru,” strongly condemning the punishment imposed on Savarkar.
