New Delhi: The National Council for Promotion of Urdu Language (NCPUL), a government body under the Ministry of Education, has drawn criticism after publishing an Urdu translation of a book portraying Vinayak Damodar Savarkar as a misunderstood nationalist.
The book, titled Veer Savarkar aur Takseem Hind ka Alamiya, is a translation of Veer Savarkar: The Man Who Could Have Prevented Partition by Uday Mahurkar, a serving Information Commissioner and former journalist. It argues that Savarkar’s views on the two-nation theory were pragmatic and non-communal. The Urdu edition is positioned to reach Muslim readers and encourage a reassessment of Savarkar’s role in India’s political history.
Historians and Urdu scholars have condemned the publication, calling it an attempt to use state-backed Urdu institutions to reshape perceptions of Hindutva icons. Critics argue that the council is prioritizing ideological promotion over linguistic and cultural enrichment. They point out that Urdu publishing should represent India’s pluralism, not serve as a channel for political messaging.
Savarkar’s documented hostility toward Muslims and his advocacy of Hindu nationalism have long made him a divisive figure. The decision to promote his image through an Urdu platform has raised questions about the government’s intent and the independence of Urdu literary institutions.
