Yamuna Savarkar, Savarkar's wife, died on November 8, 1963. Savarkar began abstaining from drugs, food, and water on February 1, 1966, which he referred to as Atmaarpan (fast until death). He wrote an article titled "Atmahatya Nahi Atmaarpan" before his death, in which he argued that when one's life mission is complete and one's desire to serve society is no longer present, it is preferable to end one's life at will rather than waiting for death. Before his death on February 26, 1966, his condition was characterised as "very serious".