Page:The Life of Lokamanya Tilak.djvu/257

 proceedings ended without any hitch after Mr. Tilak had made a short speech.

In October 19 16, Mr. Tilak attended the Ahmedabad Provincial Conference under the presidency of Mr. Jinnah. He received a grand reception from Gujarat He exhorted the Conference to support the constitu- tional reforms suggested in the " memorandum of 19 " In November he was elected a member of the All -India Congress Committee.

It is pleasant to recall these days when he worked band-in-hand with Mrs. Besant. The Home Rule Pro- poganda was in full swing. The Bureaucrats were non-plussed, the Moderates were shaking their heads with doubt and hesitation. The nation was drunk with enthusiasm. In Europe, Autocracy was being shattered to pieces. India's loyalty was clear as the sun. The British Nation was grateful ; the reactionary element was weak and helpless. The sky was resounding with the cry of Reforms and though many an advanced Moderate and vaHant Nationalist did signal service to the National Cause during this period, posterity will justly give credit to the two mighty Lieutenants of the Goddess of Liberty for having kept the flag flying — Mr Tilak and Mrs. Besant,