After the hanging of Madan Lal the police went after Savarkar but he proved to be a slippery customer. The police could not lay its hands on him.
Savarkar slipped off to Brighton sea coast and started living there. He wrote different kinds of verses and got them published.
Meanwhile, British authorities under Lord Minto had decided to suppress Indian aspirations of freedom by repressive measures. The British had the information that Abhinav Bharat had branched out to Satara and Gwalior as well. Savarkar sent some revolutionary material and weapons for the new branch which got confiscated on arrival at India.
The police began a drive to nab the members of Abhinav Bharat. Many of them got arrested at Nasik, Poona and Bombay. The authorities sealed several bomb manufacturing units.
The elder brother of Savarkar, Ganesh was arrested on the charges of printing and distributing anarchist literature. A pamphlet titled—‘Say, who has won freedom without war?’ was produced as a proof.
He was tried and sentenced to life imprisonment.
The members of Abhinav Bharat who were still free were incensed at the harsh treatment. They hatched a plot to assassinate Lord Minto but it failed. A bomb was thrown but it caused no damage.
The young man who made the assassination bid was named Mohan Lal Pandya, a friend of Narayan, the youngest brother of Savarkar. Mohan Lal Pandya was arrested along with Narayan on suspicion. The authorities confiscated the property of the three brothers.
When Savarkar was informed about it he proudly said, “We three brothers are working for the freedom of the country. It is a matter of pride for us. What if the government has taken away our property? We are ready to give our lives too for the liberation of the country.”
Savarkar wrote a letter to his sister in-law to console her—
‘Respected Bhabhi! Thousands of flowers bloom in the garden and wither away with no one taking notice of them. But the flowers offered at the feet of God by the trunk of the king elephant are believed to get immortalised. Similarly we three brothers would become immortal by offering ourselves at the feet of Mother India!’
The letter proved great consolation to his wife and the sister-in-law. They wrote back—“Continue your fight against The British. We stand by you.”
The harsh treatment meted out to Savarkar family angered the youth of Maharashtra. Many of them were devoted to Savarkar.
Then, the British Collector of Nasik was shot dead. It shocked the administration. The police was able to nab the killer, a teenager named Anant Kanhere. All the people connected to him were arrested. In all 36 persons were rounded up and the case was called ‘Nasik Conspiracy’.
The pistol with which Kanhere had shot the collector was sent by Savarkar from London.
Savarkar had come back to London and was living there. After the developments back home London again had become a dangerous place for Savarkar. He was very upset. One of his associates later wrote about his state during those days—‘Troubles never come alone. The British brutalities back home anguished Savarkar so much that he fell sick with double pneumonia. The doctors advised him to go away from the congested city of London. So, Savarkar decided to go to Paris, away from the British domain. He wanted to eat curry and rice. I thought he was too weak to travel to the hotel. So, I went and brought back packed curry-rice. He ate it and I left him at Victoria station. Savarkar went to Paris from there. That was the last I saw of him.’
Things didn’t improve in Paris. He lived in the same hectic way as in London. He little cared for his health.
On the other side, British authorities were able to find the killer weapon, the pistol supplied by Savarkar. It was French make. So, Savarkar was suspected because he had French connection. The British conspired to implicate all the Indian militants living in Paris. Realising the gravity of the situation Madam Cama claimed the ownership of the pistol to save Savarkar. The British were not satisfied. They wanted the neck of Vinayak Savarkar.
Bombay Governor instructed the Nasik magistrate to declare Savarkar an absconder and send the arrest warrant to London. The magistrate complied and the warrant was sent to London. It was stated that Savarkar was conspiring to overthrow British government in India and was procuring weapons in France to supply to the assassins in India to kill the British personnel besides instigating them to do so. The police had record in London of Savarkar preaching treason against the British Crown. There were five specific charges.
The charges slapped on Savarkar were no surprises. They were long expected. Savarkar’s confidant Mr. Aiyyar informed him of the charges. He advised Savarkar to be careful. Savarkar’s Paris friends also suggested some discretion. He would not listen. He spoke, “What you advise me is impossible for me to do. The British are tormenting our brothers in India. How can I sit here without doing anything? It would be a shame for me. I want to be arrested.’’
It surprised everyone. But for an impartial observer it was natural. Savarkar was not a coward. The happenings so far were creating an impression that Savarkar was merely instigating others into dangerous acts while he himself safely hovered in the background avoiding direct risks. Savarkar wanted to erase that impression.
Then a letter from London was received, sent by a lady which read—‘Come to London. Urgent!’ Savarkar knew that it was a trick to trap thin. But he went to London anyway expecting to be arrested to prove to others that he was not merely using others as a manipulator. He could face the worst himself.
The London authorities arrested him. He was taken to the police station and searched. No implicating evidence was recovered.
The associates of Savarkar applied for bail but it was turned down. He was sent to Brickton Jail. Mr. Aiyyar came to the jail to consult Savarkar about their further moves. After consultation it was decided to hire a lawyer to plead Savarkar’s case and it was done. But it was discovered that the case would cost a lot of money. Mr. Aiyyar wrote to his friends about the financial assistance they needed. Many of the friends came forward to contribute money.
In jail Savarkar met an English journalist named ‘Guy Alfred.’ They became friends because the journalist was languishing in jail because he had contributed to India’s freedom effort. He had edited Shyam Krishan Verma’s ‘Indian Sociologist’ and got it printed when every other publisher had shied away. For Savarkar it was a pleasant surprise.
From the jail, Savarkar wrote a letter to his sister-in-law and wife in Marathi, the English version of which read—
‘Dear Sister-in-law,
I have not forgotten the days when before you I used to pledge to free the motherland. Do you remember the day when the youngman of the organisation had said that they would become Baji Prabhu and young women pledged to be the women of Chittaur? Sister, you will be glad to know that your Vinayak’s pledge in achieving new successes everyday. Now the day is not far when the country will be free. The days of the British are over. They have decided to go. We have forced them to flee. The revolutionaries of our country have born so many torments. Their memory multiplies our strength. Our patience is not broken or run out. Today we are ready to sacrifice everything for the motherland. I had dedicated myself to the service of Mother India. My articles, my verses, my body, heart, possessions and youth is all pledged to the cause of the country. Serving Motherland for me is worship of God. Our country is thirty crore strong. Out of the thirty crore whatever number are patriots I wish to thank them and want to tell them that blessed are they.’
Savarkar’s wife had born him a son who was the sole light of her life. The son unfortunately passed away plunging her world into darkness. The news of his death grieved Savarkar. He sent a letter consoling her and advising her to use forbearance.
