Port Blair, Andaman & Nicobar Islands: In a moment rich with cultural and historical significance, author and investor Jay Patel had the honour of presenting his book, Barrister Mr Patel, to Padma Shri Pandit Hridaynath Mangeshkar, the renowned composer and younger brother of Bharat Ratna Lata Mangeshkar. This significant event occurred during a landmark celebration commemorating 115 years of the famous patriotic poem “Sagara Pran Talmalala.”
The event was particularly meaningful as Jay Patel joined Pandit Hridaynath Mangeshkar and his son Aadinath Mangeshkar in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands. Together, they reflected on India’s freedom movement, cultural heritage, and the lasting impact of patriotic literature and music.
Popularly known by its opening lines “Ne Majasi Ne…”, “Sagara Pran Talmalala” is one of the most evocative expressions of India’s struggle for independence. The Marathi poem captures the pain of exile, longing for the motherland, and the unwavering patriotism of a revolutionary separated from India. The sea is portrayed as a symbolic messenger, carrying the patriot’s emotions back to his homeland.
The poem was written around 1909 by Vinayak Damodar Savarkar on the shores of Brighton, England, during his association with India House in London. Decades later, it was immortalised through music composed by Pandit Hridaynath Mangeshkar and rendered by Lata Mangeshkar, giving the poem a permanent place in India’s cultural and patriotic legacy.
The commemorative programme was held at the site of the newly unveiled statue of Veer Savarkar in Sri Vijayapuram (Port Blair) and witnessed the participation of thousands of attendees. Eminent dignitaries present included Union Home Minister Amit Shah, RSS Sarsanghchalak Dr. Mohan Bhagwat, Lieutenant Governor of Andaman & Nicobar Islands Admiral D. K. Joshi (Retd.), Padma Shri Pandit Hridaynath Mangeshkar, actor and filmmaker Randeep Hooda, author Jay Patel, and historian Vikram Sampath. The event featured cultural, literary, and commemorative programmes paying tribute to Savarkar’s revolutionary legacy and ideological contributions.
Actor Randeep Hooda, who portrayed Vinayak Damodar Savarkar in his 2024 film Swatantrya Veer Savarkar, revisited the historic Cellular Jail, where Savarkar was once imprisoned. Author Jay Patel, who portrayed Shyamji Krishna Varma in the film, also revisited the site, symbolically connecting history, literature, and cinema.
Reflecting on the experience, they noted that returning to the Cellular Jail—once known as Kaala Paani—during the unveiling of Savarkar’s statue and the commemoration of “Sagara Pran Talmalala” was deeply personal and emotionally powerful.
The convergence of literature, music, cinema, and history at this event served as a poignant reminder of India’s freedom struggle and the revolutionaries, artists, and thinkers who ensured that its spirit continues to inspire generations.