Mumbai: Mumbai University on Tuesday inaugurated the Swatantryaveer Vinayak Damodar Savarkar Study and Research Centre, dedicated to the life and work of the revolutionary freedom fighter, with Maharashtra Governor Ramesh Bais and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis attending the online launch event held at the university's Fort campus.
The centre will offer certificate, diploma, undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral programmes focusing on Savarkar’s literary, philosophical, and social contributions. As part of a broader linguistic and educational initiative, science and technology course content will also be made available in Marathi over the next two years, reflecting Savarkar's emphasis on language purification and pride in Indian languages.
Speaking at the event, Governor Ramesh Bais described the initiative as a commendable effort to deepen scholarly engagement with Savarkar’s ideology and legacy. He urged for the establishment of a pan-India Savarkar Circuit linking key locations associated with Savarkar’s life to foster historical awareness and national unity.
CM Devendra Fadnavis highlighted the far-reaching impact of Savarkar's contributions and said the research centre will unravel the many dimensions of his life and thoughts. "Even if scholars study each aspect of Savarkar’s life for 25 years, they will not be able to cover it all," he said, assuring full funding support from the state government for the centre.
Fadnavis also stated that the British government had revoked Savarkar’s barrister degree due to his revolutionary activities and that the Maharashtra government, in coordination with Mumbai University, would initiate correspondence with institutions in England to have the degree posthumously reinstated.
Higher and Technical Education Minister Chandrakant Patil announced that a statue of Savarkar would soon be installed on the university’s Kalina campus. Patil also recalled Savarkar's contribution to social reform, particularly his campaign for Dalit temple entry and inter-caste unity during his internment in Ratnagiri.
He added that the centre aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of freeing Indian education from colonial mindsets and reviving indigenous knowledge traditions by 2047.
Ashish Shelar, Minister for Cultural Affairs, said Savarkar’s iconic Marathi poem “Anadi Mi, Anant Mi…" had inspired the state government’s newly instituted Rajya Prerna Geet Puraskar, named in honour of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj. “Sambhaji Maharaj was not only a warrior but also a brilliant scholar and linguist. His legacy and Savarkar’s thoughts provide immense motivation for today’s generation,” Shelar said.
Mumbai University Vice-Chancellor Prof. Ravindra Kulkarni, in his introductory address, said the new centre would serve as an academic platform to analyse Savarkar's speeches, writings and socio-political ideas through scholarly research and discourse.
He announced that the university has proposed a ₹100 crore grant from the Maharashtra government to develop the centre into a world-class facility.
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