ABSTRACT
People are very well aware of Tilak’s reaction to the anti-Russian campaign in the British colonial press. It shouted about a “Russian threat” to the Indians and systematically “exposed” the despotism of the Russian autocracy. Counting on assistance from Russia in that undertaking, Tilak entered into negotiations with Russian Consul V. O. Klemm. Tilak preferred the Consulate of Russia, in spite of the fact that those of Germany, the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy, and other countries were also there in Bombay at that time. The reasons which Tilak mentioned for his visit reflected the feelings prevalent among rather broad sections of Indians towards Russia. Tilak wanted to learn from the Russian Consul whether Indians could be admitted to Russian military schools. While attentively studying Tilak’s statements about the Russian revolution in subsequent years, one can see entirely new tendencies in his approach to the methods of struggle for independence.
