Savarkar Wrote Book Questioning God's Existence & Religious Beliefs : Grandnephew Tells Court
Narsi Benwal
31 July 2026 10:21 AM IST
In a development in the ongoing criminal defamation case against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, on Thursday (July 30) Satyaki Savarkar, accepted before a special court in Pune that his grandfather and right-wing ideologue Vinayak Savarkar, wrote the 'controversial' book सावरकरांचे विवज्ञानविनष्ठ विनबंध (Savarkar's Science-oriented Essays) which criticised the religious beliefs, existence of God and 'redefined' Sanatan Dharma as an 'eternal truth' based on 'laws of nature' which needs to be evolving with the changing times.
For context, Satyaki has lodged a criminal defamation case against Gandhi for allegedly defaming Savarkar by delivering a speech in London. He is being cross-examined before Special Judge Amol Shinde by Gandhi's lawyer Milind Pawar.
When the cross-examination began on Thursday, Pawar produced a copy of the book सावरकरांचे विवज्ञानविनष्ठ विनबंध before the court and questioned Satyaki if he was aware about this book written by Savarkar himself. The advocate then went on to read certain passages from the book, which basically questioned the existence of God.
"Man should altogether abandon the childish desire to establish a personal relationship with the God of the universe—like a roadside beggar trying to claim kinship with an emperor. That alone is the proper course, because that alone is the truth. The belief, 'God will do good for me, and if He does, I shall perform a Satyanarayan Puja in gratitude,' is utterly foolish. For if that were really true, then who is it that first throws us into the very calamities from which we later claim God has rescued us? It is the same Satyanarayan, the same God! If a man first cuts your throat and then applies ointment to the wound, should you worship him merely because he applied the ointment? Should you not first ask why he cut your throat in the first place and rebuke him for it? In relation to the universe, both these attitudes are equally baseless and irrational," the book reads.
Further Pawar highlighted a passage from Savarkar's book, wherein he has questioned the existence of Hindu Gods especially at the time when emperors like Alauddin Khilji, etc dethroned Hindu rulers in Maharashtra and across the country and and even went to the extent of demolishing Hindu temples.
"There was an endless bustle of chanting (japa), religious vows and observances, yogic practices, devotional week-long recitations (namasaptahas), ritual baths, and daily prayers in Maharashtra. Meanwhile, five Muslim Sultanates, one after another, were trampling upon the Hindus. Hindu women were being abducted from their homes, forcibly converted, and married off. Yet, although every deity was believed to possess more than two hands, not one of them laid a hand upon Alauddin or Malik Ambar! The Hindus paid tribute to the Badshah, but no deity thundered, 'You are an enemy of Hari! Who are you to demand tribute from My devotees?' and dragged him down from his throne by his beard. The compassionate God who is said to have helped Saint Janabai with the simple task of grinding grain did not rise to provide the infinitely greater assistance that the Hindu nation then desperately needed. Instead of grinding those enemies of Hari in the millstone of His wrath, crushing and destroying their rule, He did nothing," the book mentions.
Pawar further read out passages wherein Savarkar has raised serious questions over the still prevailing religious practices and criticised the same.
"From Kashi to Rameshwaram, countless temples were destroyed, and their idols were used as steps in the stairways of Mosques. Yet God did not become angry at those Muslim atrocities. But here, if a Hindu merely forgets to fulfil a vow of offering a coconut, or if a Hindu village fails one year to sacrifice the customary goat to Bahiroba, then that very God is supposed to become enraged! It is then believed that He will destroy that Hindu family or bring an epidemic upon the village," Savarkar wrote.
Reading out another passage from the book in question, Pawar pointed out that Savarkar referred to certain verses of Manusmriti and questioned if that too was 'Sanatan Dharma.'
"According to the scriptures (Manu), it is considered better to serve a Brahmin pork or buffalo meat than rice, because the ancestors (Pitrs) remain satisfied for ten months when such meat is offered. Furthermore, if Brahmins eat goat's meat, the ancestors remain fully satisfied for as long as twelve years. That too is Sanatan Dharma," Savarkar wrote in his book.
Pawar then read out passages wherein Savarkar has appealed citizens to develop scientific temper and respect Mother Nature as the laws of nature are eternal (Sanatan Dharma), which keeps evolving with the changing times. Savarkar also said in this passage that merely chanting the names of Ram or any other God or performing five times Namaz will not help one achieve any success and instead it is scientific temper which would help an individual to achieve worldly success.
Interestingly, Satyaki has accepted the fact that the above book was written by Savarkar. However, his advocate raised serious objections to the reference to this book by Gandhi's counsel. But the court noted that during his examination-in-chief, Satyaki had referred to this very book and thus, it was Gandhi's right to cross-examine him with regard to this very book.
"It is true that the entire above-mentioned contents have been written by Savarkar in his book सावरकरांचे विवज्ञानविनष्ठ विनबंध (Scientific Essays)," Satyaki told the court.
Satyaki's cross-examination will continue on August 4.
Background:
The defamation complaint asserts that Gandhi has repeatedly defamed Savarkar on various occasions over the years. One specific incident highlighted was on March 5, 2023, when Gandhi addressed the Overseas Congress in the United Kingdom.
The complainant, Satyaki Savarkar, has claimed that Gandhi intentionally made wild allegations against Savarkar, knowing them to be untrue, with the intention of harming Savarkar's reputation and causing mental agony to the complainant and his family. He states that the defamatory speech was delivered in England, but its impact was felt in Pune as it was published and circulated throughout India.
Satyaki, in his complaint, has submitted several news reports and a YouTube link to a video of Gandhi's speech in London as evidence. He has claimed that Gandhi falsely accused Savarkar of writing a book in which he described beating up a Muslim person, which Savarkar never wrote and such an incident never happened.
Satyaki argued that Gandhi made these false, malicious, and wild allegations with the specific objective of defaming Savarkar and harming his reputation.
The criminal defamation application filed by Satyaki demands maximum punishment for Gandhi under Section 500 (Punishment for defamation) of the IPC and seeks imposition of maximum compensation as per Section 357 (Order to pay compensation) of the CrPC.
Case Title: Satyaki Savarkar vs Rahul Gandhi
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