Savarkar and Jinnah both were idealists of Congress nationalism.
It is historically incorrect to call Savarkar and Jinnah are the only xenophobic and separatists. There were two parts to both these leaders. In the pre-Gandhi era politics, they both were leaders of the nationalist movement and Jinnah also was a tall leader in Indian politics. They represented the elite and upper-class demands in the British colony, something Congress was concerned at that point of time. Post Gandhi entry to Indian politics and made Congress movement into a common man's freedom struggle for self-governance, the part two Savarkar and Jinnah emerged. This was after their realisation that their upper caste and elite politics have had no space in Gandhi era mass movement. In the political canvas of India of that point of time, Gandhi contrasted them and their politics of negotiated collaboration to a negative space for a positive mass movement of the common man of complete freedom or right for self-governance.
The fact is both of them were only representing the Congress existed in India before Gandhi's entry into Indian politics- exclusionary, elitist and driven by upper-caste interests. They could not grow beyond that point of history, whereas Gandhi took it forward. He made sure, Congress did not remain in the hands of a selected few, who were negotiating for the privileges of their community. He punched holes in that elitism by making it a mass movement for complete Swaraj. Also, he did not allow, Bose kind of military supremacist agendas, something that would have made Congress again an elitist. Congress to a great extend at that point of time was the RSS avatar of the day. Their second part of political life, what they are known for these days, were only due to their inability to understand Gandhi and the change he brought to the Congress. It changed from elitist, upper caste movement to a mass movement but Jinnah and Savarkar held on to the old position of elite and upper-caste privilege protection.
So if one accepts Bala Gangadhara Tilak and the leader of the pre- Gandhi era Congress as freedom fighters, one may also have to accept Jinha and Savarkar as freedom fighters and leaders.
So Savarkar's letter to British for clemency cannot be the benchmark of his betrayal of freedom fight. Congress was a collaborator at that point of time. Considering Communist party also had collaborated with British during quit India movement, Marxist historians should not take a high moralistic position about that event.
