Page:The Life of Lokamanya Tilak.djvu/126

106 patriotic and national forces. The inspiration which western democratic teachings gave to us Was rather weak and essentially outlandish. But the worship of Shivaji was such as even the ignorant villager could understand. The name of Shivaji was a symbol of unity, courage, sacrifice. It connoted the highest patriotic fervour. It stood for complete political emancipation. Shivaji and Swaraj were synonymous words. By starting the Shivaji festival in 1895, Mr. Tilak stimulated the National instincts of the people. He gave to a message to the people freed from the puzzling verbiage of western democracy and which being simple and direct went straight to their hearts.

The first public meeting that was held in connection with the Shivaji memorial was organised by Mr. Tilak and was attended by the leading Chiefs of Maratha States as also by the leading Jahagirdars and the Inamdars of the Deccan. It was attended or blessed by the leading Reformers of the day. The Spiritual Descendant of Saint Ramdas honoured with it with his presence. Some Mahomedans also attended in true fraternal spirit. High and low, rich and poor, persons of every caste and creed flocked to do homage to the memory of the hero.

But this unity of sentiment was short-lived. Such a rallying point evidently scared the Bureaucrats. In 1897 Mr. Tilak was convicted for having published a few verses (descriptive of an imaginery message of Shivaji) and a report of his speech at the Shivaji festival. Since that time a large portion of those people whose happiness and position in life depended upon Bureaucratic goodwill