He disdained none of the arts which make for popularity.

His house was always open to those who sought in the right spirit for assistance or advice.

He had absolute control of the Sabha and ruled the municipality of Poona.

In private and in public, through his speeches and through his newspapers, he worked upon the prejudices and passions of both the educated and the uneducated, and especially upon the crude enthusiasm of the young.
Towards the end of 1896 the Deccan was threatened with famine.

Hungry stomachs are prompt to violence, and Tilak started a "no-rent" campaign.
Like all Tilak's schemes in those days it was carefully designed to conceal as far as possible any direct incitement to the withholding of land revenue.