Page:The Life of Lokamanya Tilak.djvu/79

Rh neither the political administration nor the structure of our society completely satisfies us. We want to reform both. The English administration as well as the Indian society have solid foundations; we are, therefore, bound to proceed with caution. Now, if people are willing to accept Political Reforms in a spirit of conciliation and compromise we fail to understand why we should like to proceed with Social Reform in an arrogant and defiant manner. If we are prepared to make compromise when the Parliament passes the Council's Act, 1892, why should we not do so with respect to questions likes widow-remarriage? Fanatical opposition might occassionally be successful, but as a rule, in political as well as social matters, fanaticism is suicidal" (Kesari 7th June 1892).

It will be news to this generation, accustomed to take for granted Mr. Tilak's hostility or indifference to Social Reform, that not only did he attend Social Conferences but also took active part in the proceedings. In the 4th Social Conference, held at Calcutta, (Dec. 1890), Mr. Tilak moved an amendment to a Resolution proposed by the late Mr. R. N, Mudholkar. The resolution condemned child-marriages and advocated adult-marriages. Mr. Tilak, who whole-heartedly supported the proposition wanted to delete an incorrect reference to the Shastras. In the Social Conference of 1891, held at Nagpur, Mr. Tilak suggested a bold amendment to the Resolution which advocated widow remarriages and called upon people to help the movement by doing their utmost. "How are the people to help"? asked Mr. Tilak. He said that mere lip-sympathy for widow remarriages would not do. These who sympathised