Abstract

Vinayak Damodar Savarkar’s key writings are replete with terms like revenge, retribution, bloodshed, revolt etc. In some of his important works, he provided in-depth descriptions of battles, killings, arson, destruction of temples and homes and other similar incidents. This essay examines some of his key works in an effort to comprehend Savarkar’s philosophy of retribution. It will make an attempt to answer these questions: What was Savarkar’s philosophy of retribution? Why was retribution so important for Savarkar? What is the role of retribution in his idea of nationalism? It demonstrates that Savarkar strongly believed that retribution was the sole means to demonstrate the moral as well as the physical fitness of a nation to survive on an equal footing with other nations. By doing this, he redefined violent acts as ethically acceptable as long as they were used as a means for retribution to correct past injustices and served the national interests.