Page:The Life of Lokamanya Tilak.djvu/135

Rh lities were accompanied by an utter lack of sympathy and imagination and by a mistaken consciousness that his Lordship was specially sent on earth to consolidate the British Empire. To Lord Curzon's imagination, India appeared a mere pawn in the bigger game of extending England's sphere of influence over Asia and in the blindness of his imperialistic ego, he failed to realise the growing awakening in the country. His attempts to win popularity with the ryots by huge expenditures on agriculture and irrigation and by reduction of salt-tax and the Income-Tax and by his ostentatious solicitude for equitable justice between the black man and his white master, were completely unsuccessful. His callous neglect of the industrial regeneration of the country, his anxiety to control University education, his cynical reference to the Political Movement of the day, his curt refusal to encourage Indians in higher service, his audacious interpretation of the Queen's Proclamation, his uncalled-for interference in Local self-Government, his reckless expenditure in the unnecessary Durbar at Delhi, his rude refusal to receive the Congress-Deputation headed by Sir Henry Cotton, and to top all, the memorable Partition of Bengal—these and many other events of Lord Curzon's Viceroyalty created a delicate situation which, the Moderates were unable to cope with. Public disappointment was at its height. Even the late Mr. Hume, Father of the Congress felt it his duty to awaken the ' leaders ' from their inglorious apathy. Said he:—

"It is by consistent and persistent importunity both in India and England that sooner or later, wearied out