Page:The Life of Lokamanya Tilak.djvu/246

 Punjab ! Surely, this was " Co-operation " with a vengeance ! The satrap of the Punjab led the way ! The Delhi Commissioner followed suit ; and wonder of wonders, Mr. Tilak had not even dreamt of going over to the Punjab or to Delhi. When the Premier wanted an appeal which would fire the imagination of the Indians, here was an appeal of a very different sort. But this was only the beginning. The Press Deputation that waited on the Viceroy returned cruelly disappointed. The Press Act must still disfigure the Statute Book. Instead of promising substantial concessions to the people, the Government deprecated in strong langauge political agitation. Coercion was threatened. The threat was soon carried out and Mrs. Besant, the tall Poplar of Indian Politics was interned. These were some of the measures intended to persuade the Indians to become soldiers of the Empire ! It is no wonder that the movement of a citizen army, thus ushered into existence soon collapsed.

But Mr. Tilak did not like that matters should rest here. He wanted to carry the case right up to the British Democracy and explain to it the state of things in India. He knew that if he could only convince the British pubUc that the military resources of India were abundant and could well be availed of for the speedy termination of the War, not only would India get the military training denied to her these hundred years and more, but the solution of the Politicial problem also would be prompt and liberal. He tried his best to finduce the Congress to send a Deputation to England^ When, at last that hope was gone, he led the Home Rule League Deputation. As fates would have it, the