Savarkar statue unveiled in Andaman to mark 116 years of ‘Sagara Pran Talamalala’

The statue in a public garden can give people moments of reflection. Pics/By Special arrangement

Vijaya Puram in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands was in celebratory mode on Friday, December 12, as an event marked 116 years of the timeless ode ‘Sagara Pran Talamalala…'. Swatantryaveer Vinayak Damodar Savarkar's statue was unveiled at Beodanabad by RSS Sarsanghchalak Dr Mohan Bhagwat, in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

"The Sagara Pran Talamalala… marks 116 years since Swatantryaveer Vinayak Damodar Savarkar composed this iconic poem, with the waves of the sea as witness," said Ameya Hete, a Mumbai-based businessman who conceptualised and organised the commemorative event and commissioned the statue.

The salute

Hete said, "The ceremony is a salute to the inspiring history of India's freedom struggle. We need to kindle the spark of patriotism in the hearts of future generations." Speaking about the statue, he added, "I always dreamt of installing a statue of Savarkar at a place where it is most apt. When one thinks of Savarkar, one thinks of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Currently, there is a small statue of him outside the Cellular Jail, and another at the Andaman airport. Now we have this statue, installed in a public garden where people can walk in, reflect on Savarkar, and spend time in quiet contemplation. The venue is accessible and historically significant."

The statue was commissioned to Ram Sutar and Anil Ram Sutar of Sutar Studios in Noida. Speaking over the phone, Anil Sutar said, "It took us three months to complete the statue. It has been sculpted in bronze and stands nine feet tall. We thoroughly study historical figures before working on them. We examined photographs and Savarkar's ideology. Our endeavour was to convey the strength of his hands and the power of his philosophy. A statue is not just an embellishment; it tells a story, motivates people to delve deeper into the subject, and can inspire meaningful life lessons."

Sparkle

Admiral (Retd) Devendra Kumar Joshi, Honourable Lieutenant Governor of Vijaya Puram, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and Maharashtra's Minister for Cultural Affairs and Information Technology, Advocate Ashish Shelar, were also present at the event.

Hete has long been associated with initiatives centred on Savarkar. In April 2023, the Mumbai entrepreneur had organised a Marathi musical titled ‘Mee Savarkar' (I am Savarkar), based on Savarkar's life, songs and poetry, staged at the Swatantryaveer Savarkar Rashtriya Smarak at Shivaji Park. Recalling a visit to Port Blair at the time, Hete had said, "I saw the Cellular Jail, where Savarkar was imprisoned. It was a deeply moving and memorable experience."