Though we were acquainted with him, we were never thrown into close contact with him. All that we have written about him is, therefore, what we can infer from public records. It is to be hoped, some among those who knew him intimately would write an adequate biography, severely separating facts from fiction and giving a critical appreciation of the man such as would explain the extraordinary influence which he exercised over the imagination of the public. It was no common influence that could make lakhs upon lakhs of people belonging to different castes, sects, nations and races follow his funeral procession. We do not know that any king or emperor, statesman or general, philanthropist or patriot, prophet or saint, in our country had ever so imposing a funeral. Nor were there ever so many memorial meetings held all over India and even abroad and so many messages of sorrow received from all parts of India and many foreign countries. The time has not yet come to correctly appraise the value of such a phenomenon. Heaping of superlatives upon superlatives leaves a sense of unreality behind, does not give a clue to the understanding of the phenomenon. There should be an adequate explanation and a correct appraisal. When the time comes, we would expect his biographer to give us that explanation and appraisal.
On the Funeral Pyre
Whatever the explanation, one conclusion is irresistible—a people which can express its love for its leader in such an impressive manner is not dead.
That the friends, fellow-workers and followers of so eminent and devoted a worker
