India to prove their sympathy for the Bengalees by adopting Boycott, but evidently, the Moderates were not yet prepared to recommend Boycott for all the provinces. Mr. Tilak, however, was not discouraged* The Congress, he said, had broken its tradition by supporting the Boycott and he looked up to the next Congress at Calcutta, to vigourously continue the work so substantially begun at Benares.
In June 1906, Mr. Tilak paid a visit to Calcutta on the occassion of the Shivaji festival. Soon after, Babu Bipin Chander Pal made the proposal that Mr. Tilak should preside over the Calcutta Congress. This was the first time in the history of the Congress when Mr. Tilak's name was seriously proposed for the highest honour at the disposal of the Nation. Mr. Pal was not content merely with proposing Mr. Tilak's name. He carried on a regular campaign. The Moderates were afraid. Sir Pherozeshah set racking his brains to avert the "catastrophe." Babu Surendranath, evidently smarting under the misrepresentations of the "crowning" incident promised every possible help to the Lion of Bombay. At last a master stroke was delivered A cable was sent to Dadabhai Naoroji, the G. O. M. of India; it said that the Congress was in danger; would Dadabhai return to India and preside over the Congress? The Cable was despatched by Babu Bhupendra Nath Basu, the right-hand man of Babu Surendranath. Without consulting his colleagues, without consulting the Reception Committee, he took this step, relying upon Dababhai's innocence and fidelity. Dadabhai was the last man to shirk help when the Congress was reported to be in danger. At once he cabled back aa
