practically dead and gone. Only a few
years, before an Englishman who had visited Shivaji's tomb had written
to a local newspaper calling attention to the ruinous condition into
which the people of Maharashtra had allowed the last resting-place of
their national hero to fall. Some say it was this letter which first
inspired Tilak with the idea of reviving Shivaji's memory and converting
it into a living force. Originally it was upon the great days of the
Poona Peshwas that Tilak had laid the chief stress, and he may possibly
have discovered that theirs were not after all names to conjure with
amongst non-Brahman Mahrattas, who had suffered heavily enough at their
hands. At any rate, Tilak brought Shivaji to the forefront and set in
motion a great "national" propaganda which culminated in 1895 in the
celebration at all the chief centres of Brahman activity in the Deccan
of Shivaji's reputed birthday, the principal commemoration being held
under Tilak's own presidency at Raighar, where the Mahratta chieftain
had himself been crowned. What was the purpose and significance of this
movement may be gathered from a _Shlok_ or sacred poem improvised on
this occasion by one of Tilak's disciples who to acquire sinister
notoriety.

Let us be prompt like Shivaji to engage in desperate enterprises.
Take up your swords and shields and we shall cut
off countless heads of enemies. Listen! Though we shall
have to risk our lives in a national war, we shall assuredly
shed the life-blood of our enemies.

It was on the occasion of the Shivaji "coronation festivities" that the
right--nay, the duty--to commit murder for political purposes was first
publicly expounded. With Tilak in the chair, a Brahman professor got up
to vindicate Shivaji's bloody deed:--

Who dares to call that man a murderer who, when only
nine years old, had received Divine inspiration not to bow
down before a Mahomedan Emperor? Who dares to condemn
Shivaji for disregarding a minor duty in the performance
of a major one? Had Shivaji committed five or fifty
crimes more terrible, I would have been equally ready to
prostrate myself not once but one hundred times before the
image of our lord Shivaji ... Every Hindu, every
Mahratta must rejoice at this spectacle, for we too are all
striving to regain our lost independence, and it is only by
combination that we can throw off the yoke.

Tilak himself was even more outspoken: