Page:The Life of Lokamanya Tilak.djvu/330

 Mr. Tilak in his unconscious state, reveal the back- ^ound of his mind. He braved the terrors of gaol-Ufe, he could Uve down all obloquy, persecution and misre- presentation on the strength of this Faith. All the political battles fought by him were not waged for any earthly reward but from a high sense of duty, based on an unshakable faith that God was working through him. During all the storms of his life, he never felt weak or pessimistic because he knew that he was a mere pawn employed by that Divinity which presided over the destinies of India. A Tilak may come and go ; but His work would never wait ; and when the ground is suffi- ciently prepared. He shall come down to estabhsh the reign of Peace and Goodness.

Mr. Tilak's scattered and subdued utterances in deli- rium bespeak his love of the country. He frequently^ referred to the Calcutta Congress and asked " Has the Special been arranged ?" *' Have you wired to Mr. Pat el ?" Then there was the Punjab wrong to which he occasionally referred. Sometimes, he would get excited and talk wildly. In an outburst of passion he cmce said " 500 rupees to the editor; plus motor- aUowance ! What will these lord-lings do for the country ?" On the 28th, he frequently talked of 1818 " 1818 — 1918 — one hundred years — what a Ufe of servi- tude !" The last important words, reported to have been uttered by him on July 29th at i p.m., were " unless. Swaraj is achieved, — India shall not prosper. It is required for our very existence !"

The funeral of the Lokamanya was as memorable as his life. It has been thus graphically described by a contemporary : —