“Sāgara Pran Talamalala…” – A Special Cultural Tribute honouring Swatantryaveer Vinayak Damodar Savarkar
Sri Vijayapuram, Andaman & Nicobar Islands (12th December 2025).
A special cultural tribute honouring Swatantryaveer Vinayak Damodar Savarkar was held at the DBRAIT Auditorium, Sri Vijaya Puram, marking 116 years of his iconic composition “Sāgara Pran Talamalala…”.
A rare and historic moment was witnessed as RSS Sarsanghchalak Dr. Mohan Ji Bhagwat and Union Home Minister Amit Shah graced the event together.
The ceremony was attended by esteemed dignitaries including Admiral Devendra Kumar Joshi, Lt. Governor; Adv. Ashish Shelar, Maharashtra’s Minister for Culture & IT; Pandit Hridaynath Mangeshkar; actors Randeep Hooda and Sharad Ponkshe; and historian Dr. Vikram Sampath.
The event featured soulful presentations of Savarkar’s compositions Jai Dev Jai Dev, He Hindu Nrusinha Prabhu Shivaji Raja, Jayostute and the timeless Sāgara Pran Talamalala rendered under the musical direction of Pandit Hridaynath Mangeshkar.
The programme commenced with the lighting of the lamp and floral tributes to Savarkar. A Coffee Table Book on his life and philosophy was also released.
Sarsanghchalak Dr. Mohan Bhagwat Ji said that statues and poem recitations, though meaningful, are only symbols. He said every citizen must actively work to realise Savarkar’s vision.
He described Savarkar as a “shining star among Bharat’s patriots”, whose sacrifices and suffering reflected his deep love for Bharat. He urged citizens to develop the same national dedication that Savarkar embodied.
Asking “Where does the slogan of Tere Tukde come from?”, he called for rejecting divisive tendencies and reaffirming unity. He reminded that “for Savarkar, the nation itself was the deity”, and asked everyone to keep Bharat at the centre of all actions.
He encouraged youth to excel in their careers but never forget their duty towards the nation. He envisioned that by 2047, Bharat must strive for – Akhand Bharat, Vishwaguru status, Param Vaibhav Bharat.
Home Minister Amit Shah said Savarkar played an unparalleled role in national awakening and social reform, yet did not always receive due recognition. He described Andaman as a sacred land that feels like a pilgrimage, sanctified by the sacrifices of Savarkar and Subhash Chandra Bose. He added that the newly unveiled Savarkar statue will inspire future generations.
Ashish Shelar said, “I am truly fortunate to be part of this historic event which honours Swatantryaveer Savarkar and marks 116 years of his iconic song ‘Sāgara Pran Talamalala…’.”
He added that the presence of Dr. Mohan Bhagwat, Amit Shah and Hridaynath Mangeshkar made the event unforgettable.
The unveiling ceremony, organised by education activist Ameya Hete of Valuable Group, paid a grand tribute to Savarkar’s courage, sacrifice and artistic brilliance. The event concluded with a collective resolve to uphold Savarkar’s ideals and strengthen Bharat’s cultural and national spirit.
Key Points of Sarsanghchalak Ji’s speech —
- As in the shlok, dharmo vivardati Yudhiṣṭhira kīrtanena, pāpam praṇaśyati Vṛkodara kīrtanena, (dharma flourishes through the remembrance of Yudhishthira, sins are destroyed through the remembrance of Vrikodara), if we may say that way, rāṣṭra-dharmo vivardhati Sāvarkara kīrtanena, rashtra dharma flourishes through the remembrance of Savarkar.
- Even after returning from the Andaman Cellular Jail, Savarkar did not abandon his (national) work. He continued relentlessly in every way possible. He did all this for one clear reason: to inspire everyone to rise and live with the same commitment and courage.
- Patriotism exists in the hearts of all people; it should be intense and ardent.
- Through our armed struggle, fear was instilled in the British on one hand and awakening was created among our own people on the other.
- The person we choose to follow must be complete in character; in Savarkar ji’s life, we clearly see that completeness embodied.
- To describe Savarkar ji, many epithets are required. When we look at his poems, each poem reveals a distinct facet of his personality
- In Savarkar Ji’s poem to the Swatantra Devi (Goddess of Freedom) that he composed, his strong desire for independence is evident. In the final verse, a heroic spirit is powerfully expressed.
- How can one call oneself a son if one does not love the motherland?
- In his poem, Savarkar ji says, how does it matter if there are seven brothers? if the nation demands it, even the sacrifice of an entire family is acceptable without regret. Even if our lineage were to be completely extinguished, we would still be called an unbroken lineage.
- We remember Savarkar ji first and foremost for his patriotism.
- If we wish to build the nation Savarkar dreamed of, that dream must become our own and to make that dream a reality, the same kind of intense and ardent patriotism is required.
- Savarkar ji worked for the strengthening of native The question is whether, in our own homes, our children know our mother tongue or not?
- We must guide our children to earn well, but to earn for the country. Do not spend only for yourself. Study whatever you wish to study, but study with the thought of how it will be useful for the nation. These are the very principles on which Savarkar ji worked. Do we make the effort to practice these principles in our own lives or not? We will have to do that.
- In a sense, among all those who strove and sacrificed their lives for India’s freedom from 1857 to 1947, Savarkar ji stands as one of the finest names, a vast galaxy of sacrifice. And within that galaxy, Savarkar ji shines as the foremost and most radiant star, a guiding light for us all.
- If we wish to make our nation supremely prosperous and move forward, we must all bring Savarkar ji into our own lives. We must not be afraid. We must not be frightened by seeing the hardships and sufferings he endured.
