Page:The Life of Lokamanya Tilak.djvu/337

 Vishwanath was cut off in the prime of his life. Surrounded by a large family of children, grand-children and other near relatives, trusted by numerous friends and followed by the majority of his countrymen, with his purse, long or short, always at the disposal of the the needy and his time all given up to reading, writing, thinking, working for the country, Mr. Tilak may be said to have passed a singularly enviable life.

To a superficial observer, Mr. Tilak's personality appeared to be an extremely simple one for analysis ; but really it was extremely complex. What struck careful observers was the harmonious combination of apparently contradictory quahties. He was daring but cautious, simple but astute, fiery but quiet. An extremely social man, none revelled more in solitude. An idealist by nature, he trained himself to a perfect realisation of practical limitations. Though stem, he was kind-hearted. He dehghted in conflicts, but he was by nature averse to them. He seemed resentful and implacable, but was always the first to conciliate and compromise ; and though plain and blunt in his talk and dealings, he has often suffered on account of that refined reserve which is the highest mark of nobility and culture.

Of those softer graces of fife, which are the reward of the pursuit of the fine arts or fashionable games, he was totally devoid. He never cultivated music, vocal or instrumental, though, of course, he encouraged it in the annual public festivals, instituted by him in honour of the god Ganesh. He suffered himself to be occasion- ally taken to dramas, but he considered it all to be a waste of time. He detested cards and was indifferent