We are enamored of Western "advancement." But till the 19th century, and even later, the West was very primitive in understanding basic health and hygiene. They didn't "civilize" natives, but vice versa as they copied knowledge from those they colonized.
Most of Europe was a filthy dump, rife with poverty and disease. No wonder their biggest weapon against Native Americans was the diseases they brought from Europe.
It is only after massive transfer of wealth from loot of colonies that get basic civics.
Incas, Aztecs were more advanced than their European conquerors.
"Tenochtitlan was much larger than any European city of its time, and had wide, straight streets, stone aqueducts to bring fresh water from springs and a large, well-organized marketplace."
The issue of Savarkar's "mercy petitions" is so overblown. While Gandhi/Nehru got cushy jails, since they were no real threat, Savarkar got Kaala Paani, hard labor and torture, because he had rattled the Empire
What one writes after years of torture to get out is immaterial.
Meanwhile, there is immense record of Gandhi's active subservience to and collaboration with the British Empire, from his time in South Africa to recruitment of Indians to fight for the British in World War I (and later).
Here he pledges "unconditional service" to the Empire.
In the time period when Savarkar was forming revolutionary societies to fight for complete independence, Gandhi was pledging "unflinching devotion to duty and extreme eagerness to serve our
Sovereign" to "prove Indian Loyalty" to the British.