Andaman 6 - The Story Of Veer Savarkar Poem by Geeta Radhakrishna Menon

When Vinayak Damodar Savarkar was
Brought to Port Blair in 1911,
All chained and secured,
To serve two life terms of confinement,
At the alarming Indian Bastille of Cellular Jail,
In Port Blair with an order of fifty years in jail,
The Jailors had no idea that
This revolutionary, brave son of India would
Change the course of events to a better tomorrow,
To free India from the bondage of foreign rule.

A new story began unfolding
That sprinkled new hope, new incentive
With the presence of Savarkar in the Cellular Jail.
The segregation in Jail was so intense and strict
That Vinayak Damodar Savarkar was even unaware that
His own brother Ganesh Damodar Savarkar too, was
Confined in the same Cellular Jail complex of Andaman.
The brothers learnt of each other's presence
Only after two years of terrible isolation.
Such was the secrecy involved in the system of Jail.

But the dark clouds have to move away
A silver lining has to appear in the sky.
Veer Savarkar began to raise his voice against
The harsh treatment and gruesome torture.
A revolutionary movement began with his leadership.
His voice began echoing around the walls of the Jail,
Piercing through the air, reaching out to the other patriots,
The dark dungeons, did not deter him from the quest for freedom.
The freedom fighters united with a spirit of resistance and defiance.
They fought like firebrands, undaunted to achieve liberation.

Veer Savarkar was released on 10th May 1937,
After 27 years of Jail term in the Cellular Jail,
The sufferings that he endured during
His jail term was deplorable, and condemnatory.
Yet, he tolerated with forbearance.
He set up a library in the jail to inculcate reading habit,
He sang patriotic songs with gusto, together with the inmates,
Changing the whole atmosphere of Jail to a temple of learning,
Veer Savarkar became a teacher and a exemplary guide,
Steering and leading the path towards free India.

In the saga of India's fight for freedom
The name of Veer Savarkar shines like a bright star.
A man of letters, a writer, a poet, a singer,
A revolutionary, a social reformer, a nationalist;
He had set his goal in life right from his youthful days,
With strong will power,
With fearless determination;
To breathe free, to live and die for your motherland.
The title ‘Veer" was accorded to Savarkar meaning ‘Brave'
As he proved himself, a fearless champion of his country.