Which of the following books were written by V. D. Savarkar? Choose the answer from the codes given below
(i) Hindutva
(ii) Indian War of Independence - 1857
(iii) Joseph Mezzini
(iv) Prison Life

Question

Which of the following books were written by V. D. Savarkar? Choose the answer from the codes given below  
(i) Hindutva 
(ii) Indian War of Independence - 1857 
(iii) Joseph Mezzini 
(iv) Prison Life

Accepted Answer

The correct option is 2:

Vinayak Damodar Savarkar (V. D. Savarkar) was a prominent figure in the Indian independence movement and a major proponent of the Hindutva ideology. He is credited with writing several significant works. The three books mentioned in codes (i), (ii), and (iii) are indeed his writings. **(i) Hindutva: Who is a Hindu?** (1923) is his seminal work outlining his vision of the Hindu nation and defining the term 'Hindutva'. **(ii) The Indian War of Independence – 1857** (1909) is a historically revisionist account that portrayed the Revolt of 1857 as the first organized national uprising against British rule. Furthermore, **(iii) Joseph Mezzini** is a biography written by Savarkar on the Italian revolutionary Giuseppe Mazzini, whom he greatly admired. Therefore, statements (i), (ii), and (iii) are all correct.

The incorrect option is 1: This option selects only (i) and (ii), excluding (iii) *Joseph Mezzini*. Since Savarkar wrote *Joseph Mezzini*, this option is incomplete and thus incorrect.
The incorrect option is 3: This option selects only (ii) and (iii), excluding (i) *Hindutva*. Since *Hindutva* is one of Savarkar's most famous works, this option omits a key book and is incorrect.
The incorrect option is 4: This option selects (i), (ii), (iii), and (iv). While Savarkar's life included long periods of imprisonment, particularly in the Cellular Jail in the Andaman Islands, the book **(iv) Prison Life** was not written by him. This work is generally attributed to other authors or refers to a different context. Selecting this option is incorrect because (iv) is not a book written by V. D. Savarkar.