*14th Feb, 2025* *News of the Day* *Prime Minister and President of France jointly inaugurate the Consulate General of India in Marseille* *Introduction* Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and the President of the French Republic, H.E. Mr. Emmanuel Macron, today jointly inaugurated the newly opened Consulate General of India in Marseille. The decision to open a Consulate General in Marseille was announced during Prime Minister’s visit to France in July 2023. *PM Modi recalls Story of Savarkar’s attempted escape* While in Marseille, Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote about the port city’s “special” connection to India’s struggle for Independence. “It was here that the great Veer Savarkar attempted a courageous escape. I also want to thank the people of Marseille and the French activists of that time who demanded that he not be handed over to British custody,” he posted on X. *Savarkar’s attempted escape at Marseille* Vinayak Damodar Savarkar was arrested in London in March 1910, on charges of anti-state acts and abetment of Nashik magistrate A M T Jackson’s murder. While being brought to India for trial onboard the commercial ship SS Morea, Savarkar tried to escape from custody in Marseille. SS Morea had sailed from London on July 1, 1910. It docked at Marseille a week later. On July 8, 1910, Savarkar, who was being closely guarded, sought permission to use the washroom. He then bolted the toilet from inside, jumped out of the ship’s porthole, and swam ashore. However, Savarkar was soon apprehended by a brigadier of the French maritime gendarmerie, who handed him over to guards from the ship after mistaking him for a crew member. *Sentence Given to Savarkar* Savarkar was brought to India and tried. He was sentenced to two life terms by the Bombay High Court for 25 years each in December 1910 and January 1911. He would be sentenced to rigorous imprisonment in the Cellular Jail in Port Blair, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, on July 4, 1911. *Savarkar’s account* Savarkar references his attempted sea escape in his Marathi biographical work Mazi Janmathep, first published in 1927. The book has been translated into English as The Story of My Transportation for Life by Prof V N Naik. Relevance: GS Prelims; Bilateral Relations Source: PIB and Indian Express *Download the Complete Daily Current Affairs Pdf* https://www.prepmate.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/News-Juice-14th-February-2025.pdf