Bharat Singh revered Lariat RAI as a leader. But he would not spare even Lariat RAI, when, during the last years of his life, Lariat RAI turned to communal politics. He then launched a political-ideological campaign against him. Because Lariat RAI was a respected leader, he would not publicly use harsh words of criticism against him. And so he printed as a pamphlet Robert Browning’s famous poem, ‘The Lost Leader,’ in which Browning criticizes Wordsworth for turning against liberty. The poem begins with the line ‘Just for a handful of silver he left us.’ A few more of the poem’s lines were: ‘We shall march prospering, not tho’ his presence; Songs may inspirit us, not from his lyre,’ and ‘Blot out his name, then, record one lost soul more.’ There was not one word of criticism of Lariat RAI. Only, on the front cover, he printed Lariat RAI’s photograph!

Bipan Chandra

India's Struggle for Independence

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