Vināyak Dāmodar Sāvarkar (Marathi: विनायक दामोदर सावरकर) (May 28, 1883 – February 26, 1966) was an Indian political leader, who is credited with developing a Hindu nationalist political ideology he termed as Hindutva (Hinduness). Commonly addressed as Veer Savarkar (वीर सावरकर, Brave Savarkar), he is widely regarded as the inspiring icon of modern Hindu nationalist political parties. His critics vehemently oppose him for his Hindutva philosophy and for his alleged involvement in the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi.