Page:The Life of Lokamanya Tilak.djvu/75

Rh were the very negation of qualities required for the Social Reformer—gentleness, patience, tact, forbearance, and sweetness, Mr. Tilak was gradually convinced of the futility of sccial reform as it was then propagated and was for the above reason compelled to adopt first an attitude of constructive opposition and then of neutrality. No 'petti-fogging motives of policy' no consideration of winning cheap popularity by 'pandering to public prejudices' determined his attitude.

Looking back at the controversy from a distance of 30 years, what, after all has been the net result of this much-debated measure? Under the combined influence of increasing education and economic conditions and not certainly as a result of the passing of the Bill, the age of marriage has gone up, making the law practically a dead letter. Only bitter feelings have been created, feelings which have widened the gulf between the Orthodox and the Reformers and frustrated Mr. Tilak's attempts to bring about a social Reform that would not run counter to the religious and patriotic susceptibilities of the people. It is with pain that one recalls the rowdy scenes that unfortunately marred a meeting convened by the Reformers at the Kreeda Bhuwan (25th Feb. 1891). These scenes, it is still more regrettable to observe, so enraged a venerable and learned Reformer that he telegraphed to the Times of India insinuating that Messrs. Tilak and Namjoshi were at the bottom of the mischief. Subsequently a notice was served upon the Times of India (2nd Mar. 1891) and the Reformers ceased to persist in the insinuation. They, however