Tilak convinced the soft line leaders that his ‘Home Rule’ idea was not a militancy act. It was just a demand for right of Indians to rule over themselves, a self rule. The leaders agreed with him in principle but they were still reluctant to join Tilak’s campaign whole heartedly. They had reservations.
So, Tilak decided to go it alone.
In league with his associates and followers the hard liners organised a massive session at Poona in which he put forward demand for ‘Home Rule’ for the country. He called for a movement to achieve that goal.
Tilak group formally established ‘Home Rule League’ with the aim to win the right of self rule under British Empire through constitutional means and to prepare public opinion in its favour. Although Tilak was the founder of the organisation yet he held no chair in it.
Joseph Baptista was its nominated president. N. Chintamani, Dr. B.C. Munje, G.S. Khaparde, R.P. Kardikar and D.V. Belvi held other important posts.
Soft line leaders of Congress put some conditions for their cooperation. Although Tilak disapproved of the conditions yet he accepted for the sake of the party unity and to present a united front to colonial rulers.
Gandhiji expressed his unreserved support to ‘Home Rule’ idea of Tilak. As a result it became a Congress programme.
Tilak explained, “Through ‘Home Rule’ we can take charge of the governance of our own country. British Empire will be there in the background unobtrusively for the time being. It will be a step towards full freedom. The idea is that in my own country I must get the rights what an Englishman has got in England.”
He made it clear that the demand for Home Rule is not rebellion against the British empire, but just internal readjustment of the power sharing.
Gandhiji declared that demand for ‘Home Rule’ was a timely step and a necessity to solve the problems of the people. And entire congress party threw its weight behind the ‘Home Rule’.
British rulers were not pleased. They felt uneasy and wanted the ‘Home Rule’ movement to fail. Any success for Tilak was bad news for them.
The movement grew stronger and stronger. The masses rose up to stand by Bal Gangadhar Tilak. He had again become a threat to the government.
To cut him down the authorities served a notice to Tilak for something impeachable he was supposed to have said or written.
The following day was Tilak’s birth day.
The angry people turned out in massive numbers to celebrate his birthday. He was presented a purse of I lac rupees. The speakers warned the government not to harass Bal Gangadhar Tilak.
The notice followed by a judgement sentencing Tilak for creating bad feeling amongst the people against the government. Tilak challenged the judgement in the High Court.
The High Court set aside the judgement and dismissed the case against Tilak.
It added fuel to the ‘Home Rule’ movement.
To attend Lucknow Session of Congress, Bal Gangadhar Tilak set out by ‘Home Rule Special’ train. At every station the train was stopped by the mobs to garland and hail their leader, Tilak.
At Lucknow, a huge crowd received Tilak. His admirers forced him into a decorated chariot and themselves pulled it to the venue like the Juggernaut procession.
Mohammad Ali Jinnah was there to greet him. He was a great fan of Tilak.
The government reacted negatively. It threw the ‘Home Rule’ demand in waster paper basket.
The masses retaliated by lending more support to the movement. The British Government of England asked the Viceroy of India to arrest the leaders of the movement.
The viceroy wrote back—“Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Annie Beasent, Gandhi etc. leaders are behind this movement. The masses are with them. Soon the remaining leaders will also join them if we do not give some hope to Indians in the form of some constitutional changes in their favour after the World War is over.”
It resulted in declaration by Lord Montague in British Parliament—“The policy of British Government is to introduce more and more Indians in administrative departments and to develop small independent institutions so that a responsible government under the Empire gets created.”
Tilak welcomed the declaration by saying, “It looks that the door of success has opened for us. We have been given something. But our struggle will continue till we achieve our final aim of full freedom.”
Tilak had won a point.
The Indian administration officials showed their spite by ignoring Tilak on all important occasions.
Tilak cared little.
In July 1918 British issued a report which disappointed the Indian leaders. ‘Home Rule’ demand had been on purpose misinterpreted. However the British conceded the self rule at provincial level only under the shadow of the Governors, the appointees of the British Government of India.
Shopping Cart
