August 1 is a unique day. It is a day when we pay tributes to Lokmanya Tilak and Anna Bhau Sathe. Both are great, no doubt. These days, however, the Anna Bhau Sathe anniversary is celebrated in a huge way. There are speeches, processions, statue decorations, which is wonderful.
The Tilak anniversary is mostly a ritual that would involve merely floral tributes mostly. Most often at the public or at the government level, there might not be a public event.
Actually, the best tribute is, of course, following in the foot steps of the great man. Lokmanya Tilak provides us a huge route, not merely foot steps, to follow! He was the first ever who questioned the caste divide so much so that in his career as a leader, he was often described as the leader of the downtrodden. He insisted on political freedom as an important stage of a freedom struggle and believed in a simultaneous social upliftment.
He went even so far as to advise his own son that if he so wished, he could be a cobbler, too. The only condition was that he should be the best cobbler in the vicinity.
This insistence on excellence is found in his writings, both journalistic/editorial and philosophic/religious. What i find interesting about him is the fact that considered tough often, he was actually very gentle and sensitive. The best proof thereof is the fact that sparrows would perch on his shoulders while he would be writing in the Mandalay prison.
If a shy bird like a sparrow could so deeply believe him, it is a great indicator of his genuine gentleness, softness, sensitivity and reliability, i believe.
It is wonderful creating an alternative genealogy. But that should not exclude the others. In fact, multiple alternative genealogies co-existing most meaningfully is real collaborative democracy!
Pratima@ Names carved on hearts are etched on souls. Long live such memories!
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