A Book Titled “The New Icon: Savarkar and the Facts” by Arun Shourie’s

Arun Shourie, one of India’s most respected public intellectuals, has penned what is being hailed as the most significant book of his career, ‘The New Icon: Savarkar and the Facts’. Set for release on January 31, 2024, this book delves into the controversial legacy of Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, presenting a scathing critique of his ideological influence on modern Indian politics.

This book, much like Shourie’s 1997 work ‘Worshipping False Gods: Ambedkar, and the Facts Which Have Been Erased’, seeks to challenge historical narratives. However, while criticism of B R Ambedkar has remained politically untouchable, Savarkar lacks a socio-political protective shield, making this book even more impactful in shaping national discourse.

Savarkar and Mahatma Gandhi’s Assassination

One of the most explosive revelations in Shourie’s book pertains to Savarkar’s alleged role in the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi. The book was initially scheduled for release on January 30, the anniversary of Gandhi’s assassination, but it was postponed by a day due to backlash from Savarkar’s admirers.

Shourie meticulously presents evidence connecting Savarkar’s ideology to Nathuram Godse, Gandhi’s assassin. He dismantles Savarkar’s courtroom statements, proving that they were “completely fabricated”, with “not a syllable surviving scrutiny”. This bold assertion places Savarkar at the center of a deeply controversial debate regarding his true role in India’s political history.