people and to cow down the lecturer. But the attempt failed and Prof. Sathe made a spirited lecture in spite of the intimidation conveyed by the presence of an armed force. Prof. Sathe was tried at Alibag for abetting several Forest and Abkari offences. The prosecution failed. It was soon followed by another. This time the victims were three gentlemen of Thana, who had done public service by issuing a leaflet in which provisions of the Famine Code were explained. This prosecution too was a fiasco. In the next prosecution, a Mr. Apte was convicted and sentenced to simple imprisonment for one year; and soon after, the Sarvajanik Sabha which had led the agitation for the mitigation of the suffering caused by the famine was, on some flimsy pretext, declared to have forfeited its right to petition, the Government.
Of all the agitations led by Mr. Tilak, this one was the most systematic and organised. It was an agitation which all men understood, which allowed very little room for party squabbles, and which the Government was afraid to put down. Combining the strength of simplicity and unity and suffering from little opposition; it became irresistible. It opened a new vista before Mr. Tilak. He saw immense possibilities in such well-organised agitations; and he wanted the Congress to undertake an agitation, that would reach even the most distant hamlet. Upto this time, Mr. Tilak was satisfied with—or rather he acquiesced in—the methods of Congrss leaders. But now he wanted a radical change. Referring to the proceedings of the 12th Congress held at Calcutta he said : {Kesari, January 12th, 1896)
"For the last twelve years we have been shouting
