Rabindranth and Freedom Struggle 1916-1917 (contd-1)

In a Home Rule special train Tilak with his supporters started from Lakhnau. They were greeted in every Station. having reached Lakhnau station, the people assembled there removed the horses and took the horse-driven cart and pulled it to the stage Stage of the Congress session. When he stood for delivering his lecture they shouted slogans of victory .  

It is to be noted here that in 18April 1916 and in Sept 1916 respectively two HomeRule leagues were formed, one under the leadership of Tilak and the other under the leadership of Annie Basant. Though there were two leagues they did not have any difference of opinion. "Swaraj is our birth right" was the slogan of Tilak.
Tilak was arrested in a false charge by British govt. in July 1916 and annie Basant was arrested in Aug 1916 and subsequently released under peoples upsurge.
In Bengal Provincial Congress the extremists wanted Basant as the chairperson of Calcutta Congress of Bengal
Provincial Congress but the majority wantd Rabindranth as the President of the Congress. Ultimately when the National Congress Committee agreed the name of Basant as President  Rabindranath  put his resignation. But as Basant was in jail, the leader of the moderates Roybahadur Baikuntha Nath Sen acted as president. Being released on 5th Sept. 1917, Basant came to Rabindranth and met him.