Page:The Life of Lokamanya Tilak.djvu/73

 (8) One-tenth of the monthly income of every reformer should be devoted to public purposes.

Neither Ranade nor Agarkar were willing to bind themselves with this pledge. However, on Nov. 1st 1890, a meeting was held under the presidency of the late Hon. Rao Bahadur Nulkar to consider Mr. Tilak's proposals. At this meeting where both Mr. Ranade and Prof. (Dr. Sir) Bhandarkar were present, Mr. Tilak delivered a speech which deserves to be recorded. He said —" There has been much tall talk but little action regarding social reform, with the result that even those reforms, the vital need of which has been generally admitted have not been carried out into practice. We must not only see what reforms are required, but also whether and how far they are practicable and how they can be made popular; for in reforming society, care ought to be taken to avoid the creation of any gulf between the people on the one hand and the reformers on the other. We must always carry public opinion with us; and this can be done, inter alia, by securing for our reforms the sanction of religion. I am in favour of Social Reform." He then discussed his 8 points and wound up by saying that modifications might here and there be made in his scheme and then the whole be made binding on its supporters by calling in legislative sanction. Legislation, he urged should bind the reformers only and not the masses. Mr. Ranade welcomed Mr. Tilak's speech but expressed his doubt as to how many people would come forward to bind themselves legally to carry out the reforms proposed in the 8 points. He said that there were 4 classes of social reformers (i) Those who look to