Page:The Life of Lokamanya Tilak.djvu/332

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every moment and it grew so tremendous that although the funeral procession was timed to start at i p.m., it could not be started till 2 p.m. The procession was about a mile and a half and at a very conservative estimate, about two lakhs of men took part in it.

"In the funeral procession were seen Mr. Gandhi, Mr. Shaukat Ah, Dr. Kitchlew, Mr. Jamnadas, Mr. Banker, and many other prominent citizens of Bombay. Two special trains from Poona brought a number of Mr. Tilak's friends and devoted followers. They claim- ed that Mr. Tilak's body should be cremated at Poona. The people of Bombay insisted on getting the honour to themselves and in the end they won and cremated him, by special arrangements, on the sands of the Back Bay. His body was seated in a palanquin and the pall-bearers included Mr. Gandhi, Mr. Shaukat Ali, Dr. Kitchlew and many others. On the route, the procession had to stop at innumerable places, because a number of people came out to offer flowers. At every step, most enthusiastic ovations were received.

"The body was gently placed on a pyre of sandalwood, so lodngly and liberally supplies by the Parsi traders ; and at sun-down, the last earthly remains of the Sun of Maharashtra were reduced to ashes!"

The unexpected death of a personality of the magnitude of Lokamanya Tilak united, for a time, all parties, and all India mourned for the eternal loss of her great son. Even the Anglo-Indian Press, taken as a whole, expressed appreciation of their life-long opponent. Only the Government of Bombay refused to shed tears with the nation ; and His Excellency Sir George Lloyd orfeited a precious opportunity of winning the hearts