A Comparison

A Comparison

1992 5 May 16 A Comparison (265) In 1919, the All India Congress held its annual meeting in Amritsar. Many years later, in 1973, I had the opportunity to hear about the highlights of this meeting from one of the participants, Principal Niranjan Singh and brother of Master Tara Singh. The details of this discussion were published in Ajamiat Weekly (August 31, 1973) a part of which is reproduced here.

Among the noted leaders were Bal Ganga Dhar Tilak. MotiLal Nehru and Annie Besant. Even Mahatma Gandhi was present there. But he looked so insignificant that when the schoolboys saw him sitting on the stage, they shouted, “who is this grass cutter?”

Tilak proposed a resolution for complete freedom. The second proposal came from Gandhiji. He had proposed Dominion Status. After both the leaders had concluded their speeches, a vote was cast. Gandhiji got 127 votes against 123 of Tilak. Gandhiji’s proposal was accepted.

Mr. Singh said that Gandhi’s victory over Tilak was surprising indeed. When the result was announced the students started shouting “The grass cutter has won! The grass cutter has won!”

Bal Ganga Dhar Tilak had a revolutionary bent of mind. He always spoke in a thunderous voice whereas Gandhiji was coolheaded and spoke in a low tone. Tilak and the Muslim leaders wanted to demand complete freedom straightaway, whereas Gandhiji wanted it in stages, keeping in view the prevailing conditions. In the beginning, leaders like Tilak looked very lofty compared to the diminutive Gandhi. But when history gave its verdict, the world saw Gandhi as the front rank leader, while Tilak and the others brought up the rear.

The right of others to one’s property

1992 5 May 16 The right of others to one’s property (39) According to Jaadah, the Prophet, on seeing an extremely fat man, laid his finger on the man’s stomach and said: “lf what is in excess there lay in someone else’s stomach, you would be the better for it.”

(AI-Tabarani)