A Shameless Government
Fourteen years later Gandhiji started the
non-cooperation movement against the British. The methods he placed before the people,
Tilak had formulated as early as in 1906!
During this time, the Government of India and some Brit ish newspapers harassed Tilak in
many ways. A rich man, Baba Maharaj by name, had died. He had expressed the wish that
Tilak should look after his property. So Tilak took charge of it.Baba Maharaj's wife was
misled by some selfish persons. She complained against Tilak to the government. The
government was waiting for an opportuni ty to crush a leader who had been fighting against
it. It appointed special officers and held amock trial; 'it decided that Tilak had
tendered false evidence and was also guilty of for- gery. He. was handcuffed like thieves
and murderers and sent to prison. Tilak, after coming out of the jail of bail, fought for
fourteen years in different courts and finally got justice from the privy Council in
England. The Privy Council rebuked severely the courts in India for the way they had tried
this case.
The 'Globe' of London and 'The Times of India' had writ ten that Tilak incited people to
commit murders. Tilak did not rest till he made those papers apologize to him.
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