This is a video of Savarkar’s poem, Pahila Hapta, sung in the melodious voice of Padmashri Padmaja Phenani-Joglekar, from the album of Savarkar’s little known poems: Gaan Veer-Kavyache by Jay Heramb Productions.For more info and to buy the album, go to www.jayheramb.com.
Re the poem: Savarkar was considered by the British as “One of the most dangerous men India had produced.” The whole might of the British was required to squash him. Indian laws, British laws, and even International laws had to be broken before they could trap Savarkar in their claws. The British retribution for this was brutal—Savarkar was sentenced to a total of fifty years transportation to the Andaman Islands. Not many survived there, never mind escaped. At such a time, in 1910, Savarkar whose every hearbeat, every thought was devoted to the freedom of his beloved India, poured out his feelings in his poem, Pahila Hapta.
Translation of poem done by Anurupa Cinar.