{"id":13642,"date":"2026-06-17T17:04:00","date_gmt":"2026-06-17T11:34:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.class24.study\/current-affairs\/?p=13642"},"modified":"2026-06-19T15:23:15","modified_gmt":"2026-06-19T09:53:15","slug":"savarkar-mercy-petitions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.class24.study\/current-affairs\/savarkar-mercy-petitions\/","title":{"rendered":"Savarkar Mercy 10 Petitions: History, Facts &amp; Controversy"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Savarkar Mercy: On Monday (June 15), a Pune-based member of the Congress and a former minister, Khatron Lalji Kalyane, at a special MP\/MLA court in Pune, said that Savarkar had to have submitted 10 mercy petitions to the British government to have his sentence reduced. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Satyaki Savarkar Mercy, the grandnephew of Savarkar, who has filed a defamation case against Lok Sabha leader of opposition Rahul Gandhi, also told Special Judge Amol Shinde during cross-examination that other freedom fighters refused to file clemency petitions before the British, reported<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Savarkar Mercy submitted Petitions to British Authorities: Key Highlights<\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">A court has been told that Savarkar had filed 10 mercy petitions while under the British during his lifetime, at his grandson&#8217;s hands.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">It was made in the midst of ongoing legal proceedings with regard to Savarkar&#8217;s legacy.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The issue has raised a long-standing historical and political debate once again.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The reasons and impact of the petitions is controversial among historians.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">But this time, the petitions are said to be planned and have been protested against differently by supporters and critics.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The controversy has left its imprint on the running of public discourse concerning the freedom movement in India.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Who Was Vinayak Damodar Savarkar Mercy<\/b><b style=\"font-size: 16px\">?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, popularly known as Veer Savarkar, was a freedom fighter, author, social reformer, and political ideologue.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Key Facts About Savarkar<\/b><\/h3>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><b>Particulars<\/b><\/td>\n<td><b>Details<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Full Name<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Vinayak Damodar Savarkar<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Popular Name<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Veer Savarkar<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Born<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">28 May 1883<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Birthplace<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Bhagur, Maharashtra<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Organisation<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Abhinav Bharat Society<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Imprisonment<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Cellular Jail, Andaman and Nicobar Islands<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Year of Release<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">1924 (with restrictions)<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Notable Work<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Hindutva: Who Is a Hindu?<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Died<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">26 February 1966<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Why Did Savarkar Mercy Petitions to British Authorities?<\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">In 1911, Vinayak Damodar Savarkar Mercy was sentenced twice to two years each in the Cellular Jail, Andaman &amp; Nicobar Islands.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">He was subjected to extreme treatment in prison, which consisted of solitary confinement and forced labour.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Savarkar had made many mercy petitions from 1911 to 1920 for the \u201crelease\u201d and the \u201crelaxation\u201d of his sentence.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Savarkar&#8217;s petitions contained a plea for his release to assist him to make a constructive contribution to society and public life.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Supporters believe the petitions were a tactic to keep the nationalists&#8217; movement going beyond prison.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">They are seen by critics as pleas to be let off and work with British officials.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">In 2020, the Ministry of Culture had informed Parliament that the copies of these petitions were not available with the Andaman administration but that they were available in the archival sources.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Previous Year Questions (PYQs) on Veer Savarkar Mercy<\/span><\/h2>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><b>Year<\/b><\/td>\n<td><b>Exam<\/b><\/td>\n<td><b>Question<\/b><\/td>\n<td><b>Answer<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">2020<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">NDA (GAT)<\/span><\/td>\n<td><b>Who among the following organised, in 1904, a secret society of revolutionaries named \u2018Abhinav Bharat\u2019?<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">(a) Khudiram Bose<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">(b) Shyamji Krishna Verma<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">(c) Har Dayal<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">(d) V. D. Savarkar<\/span><\/td>\n<td><b>(d) V. D. Savarkar<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">2023<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">UPSC CDS (General Studies)<\/span><\/td>\n<td><b>Who among the following is the author of the book <\/b><b><i>The Indian Struggle, 1920\u20131942<\/i><\/b><b>?<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">(a) Vinayak Damodar Savarkar<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">(b) Subhas Chandra Bose<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">(c) Vallabhbhai Patel<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">(d) Sarat Chandra Bose<\/span><\/td>\n<td><b>(b) Subhas Chandra Bose<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">2019<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">MPSC<\/span><\/td>\n<td><b>Who authored the book <\/b><b><i>The First War of Indian Independence, 1857<\/i><\/b><b>?<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">(a) R. C. Majumdar<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">(b) V. D. Savarkar<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">(c) Bipin Chandra<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">(d) S. N. Sen<\/span><\/td>\n<td><b>(b) V. D. Savarkar<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">2018<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">MPSC<\/span><\/td>\n<td><b>Which organisation was founded by Vinayak Damodar Savarkar and Ganesh Damodar Savarkar?<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">(a) Anushilan Samiti<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">(b) Ghadar Party<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">(c) Abhinav Bharat Society<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">(d) Hindustan Republican Association<\/span><\/td>\n<td><b>(c) Abhinav Bharat Society<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">2017<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">State PSC<\/span><\/td>\n<td><b>Vinayak Damodar Savarkar was imprisoned in which of the following jails during British rule?<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">(a) Yerwada Jail<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">(b) Cellular Jail<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">(c) Alipore Jail<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">(d) Mandalay Jail<\/span><\/td>\n<td><b>(b) Cellular Jail<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone  wp-image-13698\" src=\"https:\/\/www.class24.study\/current-affairs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/ChatGPT-Image-Jun-19-2026-03_18_56-PM-300x169.png\" alt=\"Savarkar Mercy\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.class24.study\/current-affairs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/ChatGPT-Image-Jun-19-2026-03_18_56-PM-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/www.class24.study\/current-affairs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/ChatGPT-Image-Jun-19-2026-03_18_56-PM-1024x576.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.class24.study\/current-affairs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/ChatGPT-Image-Jun-19-2026-03_18_56-PM-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/www.class24.study\/current-affairs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/ChatGPT-Image-Jun-19-2026-03_18_56-PM-1536x864.png 1536w, https:\/\/www.class24.study\/current-affairs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/ChatGPT-Image-Jun-19-2026-03_18_56-PM.png 1672w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.class24.study\/current-affairs\/india-goods-exports-may-2026\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">India\u2019s Goods Exports Hit Record $45.2 Billion in May 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Conclusion: Savarkar Mercy Petitions to British Authorities<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Debates on the reasons for Savarkar to approach the British authorities with mercy petitions have sparked considerable historical and political debate. Blanket opinion on the objectionable purpose of the petitions submitted by Vinayak Damodar Savarkar during his incarceration at the Cellular Jail seems to vary. These petitions see interesting support as a means to secure liberalisation and engage in National activities outside the prison, while their critics see it as a plea for clemency. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">With the court statement by the grand nephew of Savarkar&#8217;s recent, there has been an interest in revisiting history and comprehending what was happening around the entire colonial period. Finally, a dispassionate evaluation calls for a careful study of the historical record, the conditions in prison and the intricacies of the freedom movement in India.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">FAQs: Savarkar Mercy<\/span><\/h2>\n<div class=\"cfaq-wrapper\" data-multiple=\"0\"><div class=\"cfaq-item cfaq-open\"><button class=\"cfaq-question\" aria-expanded=\"true\"><span class=\"cfaq-question-text\">1. How many mercy petitions did Savarkar file to British authorities?<\/span><span class=\"cfaq-icon\"><\/span><\/button><div class=\"cfaq-answer\"><div class=\"cfaq-answer-inner\"><div><span style=\"font-size: 12.35px\">According to historical records cited during recent court proceedings, Vinayak Damodar Savarkar submitted 10 mercy petitions during his imprisonment under British rule.<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"cfaq-item\"><button class=\"cfaq-question\" aria-expanded=\"false\"><span class=\"cfaq-question-text\">2. When did Savarkar file the mercy petitions?<\/span><span class=\"cfaq-icon\"><\/span><\/button><div class=\"cfaq-answer\" hidden><div class=\"cfaq-answer-inner\"><div><span style=\"font-size: 12.35px\">Savarkar reportedly filed multiple mercy petitions between 1911 and 1920 while serving his sentence in the Cellular Jail.<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"cfaq-item\"><button class=\"cfaq-question\" aria-expanded=\"false\"><span class=\"cfaq-question-text\">3. Why did Savarkar file mercy petitions to British authorities?<\/span><span class=\"cfaq-icon\"><\/span><\/button><div class=\"cfaq-answer\" hidden><div class=\"cfaq-answer-inner\"><div><span style=\"font-size: 12.35px\">Supporters argue that the petitions were a strategic move to secure release and continue public work, while critics interpret them as requests for clemency.<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"cfaq-item\"><button class=\"cfaq-question\" aria-expanded=\"false\"><span class=\"cfaq-question-text\">4. Where was Savarkar imprisoned?<\/span><span class=\"cfaq-icon\"><\/span><\/button><div class=\"cfaq-answer\" hidden><div class=\"cfaq-answer-inner\"><div><span style=\"font-size: 12.35px\">Savarkar was imprisoned in the Cellular Jail in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, also known as Kala Pani.<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"cfaq-item\"><button class=\"cfaq-question\" aria-expanded=\"false\"><span class=\"cfaq-question-text\">5. What was Savarkar&#039;s sentence?<\/span><span class=\"cfaq-icon\"><\/span><\/button><div class=\"cfaq-answer\" hidden><div class=\"cfaq-answer-inner\"><div><span style=\"font-size: 12.35px\">In 1911, British authorities sentenced Savarkar to two life terms amounting to 50 years of imprisonment for his involvement in revolutionary activities.<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Savarkar Mercy: On Monday (June 15), a Pune-based member of the Congress and a former minister, Khatron Lalji Kalyane, at a special MP\/MLA court in Pune, said that Savarkar had to have submitted 10 mercy petitions to the British government to have his sentence reduced. Satyaki Savarkar Mercy, the grandnephew of Savarkar, who has filed [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":13643,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-13642","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-hindu-editorial"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.class24.study\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13642","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.class24.study\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.class24.study\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.class24.study\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.class24.study\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13642"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.class24.study\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13642\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":13699,"href":"https:\/\/www.class24.study\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13642\/revisions\/13699"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.class24.study\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/13643"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.class24.study\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13642"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.class24.study\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13642"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.class24.study\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13642"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}