Page:The Life of Lokamanya Tilak.djvu/390

 justice and invincibility of his cause. Even when he was sentenced to imprisonment on a charge of perjury, handcuffed hke a common felon and sent to jail, cheer- fulness and equanimity never left him.

To all appearances, Mr. Tilak, when he emerged {1904) triumphant out of the first stage of the Tai Maharaj case, was the same man,a bit worried and dis- tracted, who was drawn into its vortex in 1900. But a subtle spiritual change had come over him which en- hanced his prestige and power in the anti-Partition agitation of which he was to be one of the foremost leaders. Prior to 1904, Mr. Tilak's speeches and wri- tings were merely intellectual. There was of course a "background of spiritualit}/ which we notice in his career since the very beginning. But the personality was pronouncedly intellectual. His speeches and writings arrested attention, extorted admiration and roused enthusiasm by the ruthless logic of a trained intellec- tual gladiator ; but there was no consciousness of Faith in Divine guidance in them. The veritable ordeal of the Tai Maharaj Case, however, immensely contributed to his spiritual growth. From a patriot, he was now transformed into a prophet.

While the fortunes of Mr. Tilak were apparently in the melting pot, his supposed rival, the Hon. Mr. Gokhale was rising from one pinnacle of glory to another. The careers of these two great Mahratta Brahmins suggest a series of interesting reflections. Both started life as school-masters. Both dedicated their all to the service of the Motherland. Both took to public life in true missionary spirit. Both were distinguished educa- tionists, professors of a very high order ; — Mr. Gokhale,