Page:The Life of Lokamanya Tilak.djvu/262

 had to hold the dog of repression in leash. But when the Home Rule Leagues were started, the officials felt that something must be done to arrest the tide of enthu- siasm. With this object in view, they tried to overawe Mrs. Besant and Mr. Tilak. But the proceedings against both failed to accomplish the purpose. Then came the Lucknow Congress ; and the unique combination of zeal and wisdom, of dash and caution, of idealism and practical statesmanship which the session revealed con- vinced the Government officials that a New India was really born. The Bureaucracy set itself a- thinking. Even as early as March 19 16, Lord Hardinge had cautioned India not to hold any extra- vagant hopes and to remember that even in the now Self-Governing Colonies, the step of progress had been slow. Lord Chelmsford too had raised his voice against what he called catastrophic changes. About March 19 17 " the Government of India issued a Circular to Local Governments outlining the poUcy to be pursued by the latter in connection with the Indian demand for reforms.*' Circulars, prohibiting students from attending political meetings, especially those convened by the Home-Rulers or where Home Rule was likely to be discussed were issued. In May 1917, the Governor of Madras and the Lieutenant-Governor of Punjab made " pronouncements which betrayed by their similarity of tenor and phraseology, a common source of inspira- tion. In these pronouncements, .these heads of two provinces exaggerated the nature of Indian demands, deprecated them in strong language, enjoined the people to abstain from all agitation and threatened them with repressive action if they did not do so,*'