Page:The Life of Lokamanya Tilak.djvu/331

 "It was one o'clock at midnight. All round was peace and calmness. There was a little drizzle of rain and men, not knowing the disaster that was to overtake them on the morning of the next day, were having a sound and sweet sleep. But the mysterious power, 'which rules the world was wide awake, and stealing a march on the subconscious man, carried away one of the most honoured, respected and beloved of the people- . . . .(When morning broke, people found that) the vigilant watchman of India's cause had disappeared from their midst. . . . The news of his death gave a shock to the people, it stunned them, they looked at each other with blank eyes and they knew not what to do.

"Never before in the history of Bombay, was such a scene of universal grief witnessed. People had begun to flock near Sirdar Griha from 7 in the morning and by 8 a.m., there was no room for anybody to go up to catch his last sight. The labourer had left the miU, the Marwari his account-book, the Bania his purse and every man and woman was out to see the last of their beloved leader. Musalmans, Parsees, Christians deserted their homes to pay their respects to a man, who had sacrificed his all at the altar of the country and suffered heavily for bravely defending her cause. In his lifetime, Mr. Tilak was the recipient of many popular demonstrations of good-will but the triumphal march of of dead Tilak through the streets on August ist, 1920 was more magnificent than any during his life-time.

"The body of Lokamanya Tilak was brought out and put on the balcony so that it could be witnessed by the eager and expectant crowds. The crowd increased at