134 LIFE OF BABU SURENDRA NATS BANEBJES. evening of the 3rd July — the day preceding his release — Mr Stevens, the then Magistrate of the 24-Pergunas, had seen Babu Surendra Nath in Jail and had ascer- tained from him all particulars regarding the reception which was proposed to be accorded to him by his friends at Barrackpur. Mr. Stevens who was acting under the orders of Mr. Monro then Commissioner of the Presidency Division suggested that no* meeting should be held in any house in his honours within Cantonment limits. Babu Surendra Natbj replied that every man's house was his castle and de-j precated official interference with the undoubted rights of the people to held meetings in their own housesJ The meeting was held, but a body of Police was? drawn up in the front of the house which admirably served the purposes of a guard of honouf. Babut Surendra Nath Banerjee arrived at Barrackpur by one of the afternoon trains. The Magistrate was on> the platform and a strong body of Police furnished^ with band-cuffc guarded the approaches to the station^ The military had been ordered to be in readiness the* whole day. Traffic was stopped along the way through? which Babu Surendra Nath had to pass, and when after' the meeting at the friend's house, he proceeded to his own house; a native Assistant Superintendent of Police followed him behind in a carriage to see that he had reached home without the peace of the Empire being disturbed] The folly of these proceedings was onljT too clearly apparent. These preparations— the presence of the Magistrate of the District and Assistant Su* perintendents with a large muster of Police force created a great stir in the little town of Barrackpur. I ra- the attempt -to suppress a demonstration,, the officials did their best to stimulate it Men, women, and chil- dren came in thousands to see Surendranath, and the story of his incarceration wa9 heard by those who, if left to themselves would never have heard. of k Such is sometimes the wisdom of our rulers i* India! . -
