Page:The Life of Lokamanya Tilak.djvu/50

30 appointed duties. But they would try their best to discourage manUness, virihty and patriotism.

If these statements are not now regarded as paradoxical the credit is due, among others to Mr. Tilak and his colleagues who started the New English School Poona, on January 1st, 1880. On the opening day, only 19 students were enrolled. Within a couple of months the school stood fairly on its legs and by the end of the year the number rose to 336. By the end of 1881, it was above 600 and in January 1884, it stood at 858. The mangers of the school astonished the public by taking the very modest salary of Rs. 30 p. m. though every one of them was competent enough, in some other walk of life, to draw ten times as much. Dr. Hunter, President of the Education Commission was supremely satisfied with the wonderful spirit and solid improvements introduced by Mr. Tilak and others and has recorded (1882) his unreserved admiration in the following words:—

"Throughout the whole of India, I have not yet witnessed a single institution which can be compared with this establishment. * * * This institution * * can rival and compete with success not only with the Government High Schools in the country, but may favourably compare with the schools of other countries also."

The question has been sometimes asked: "How is it, that in his attempts to nationalise education, Mr. Tilak did not disdain to take Government grant?" The answer is twofold. In the first place, Mr. Tilak did not surrender any of his principles in availing himself of the tax-payers' money through the Government. He did not bend his knees before the high-handed conduct of