Thread by @thekaipullai

Everybody who keeps blaming Savarkar for his mercy petitions, needs to visit the Cellular Jail.

And contrast it with Nehru's jail visits.

Nehru was a political prisoner, living the life in what was relatively a luxury suite.

Add to that, he had writing & newspaper privileges

Combined with good food, clean clothes & ability to entertain visitors. And the longest he was in, was for 3 years

Savarkar was there for 9

In a land that was 3000 kms away from India, needed a 14 day boat journey and in a jail desinged to suppress, oppress and depress prisoners.

In a cell that was 3 sq feet wide, which had no sunlight. He had to wake at 5 everyday, work on the oil mills, with pathetic food.

He had no hope of having any visitors. In the freedom struggle, cellular jail was the closest you got to hell. And, in hell you break down.

So, when you hold Savarkar's mercy petitions against him, have some perspective.