Previous Year Question
After the sentence of B. G. Tilak, who among the following had pleaded for mercy and said:
“My interest in Tilak is that of a Sanskrit scholar.”?
Rabindranath Tagore
Max Muller
Bipinchandra Pal
William Jones
Correct Answer: B
Detailed Solution
This question relates to the 1897 sedition trial of Bal Gangadhar Tilak. In this case, Tilak was convicted and sentenced to 18 months of imprisonment.
The famous German-born Sanskrit and Oriental scholar Friedrich Max Müller was familiar with Tilak's scholarship. Tilak was not merely a political leader but also a serious scholar of Sanskrit, the Vedas and ancient Indian history.
In particular, Tilak's book Orion, or Researches into the Antiquity of the Vedas had attracted the attention of European Oriental scholars. It was because of this scholarly connection that Max Müller took a particular interest in Tilak.
After Tilak's conviction, Max Müller and Sir William Hunter, along with other scholars, supported a petition for mercy to Queen Victoria. Historical accounts identify Max Müller as one of the leading figures behind this petition.
Tilak was eventually released from prison on 6 September 1898. The intervention of Max Müller and the clemency appeal by scholars played an important role in securing his earlier release.
Therefore, the statement—
“My interest in Tilak is that of a Sanskrit scholar” → Max Müller
is associated with him.