7. The Famous "Vande-Mataram" Episode:

Lokmanya Shri Bala Gangadhar-Tilak was sentenced to undergo 6 years of imprisonment for participating and leading the Freedom Movement of India. This happened when Keshava was a student of Neil city High school at Nagpur. Shri Janardan Vinayak Oak, the principal, had sternly warned the students from even uttering "Vande Mataram" [I bow to the Mother (land)] on the high school premises, and especially when British school inspectors were visiting. Taking this as an indirect blessing, Keshava organized the protest against Shri Tilak's arrest by shouting "Vande Mataram". Accordingly, as soon as the British inspector entered the school, the whole premises resounded with "Vande Mataram", shouted by the students. The British inspector was angered and humiliated. The school officials were against. The infamous "Risley circular" of those days had specifically banned such activism. Knowing fully well who had organized this, the principal and the staff members tried their best to persuade, cajole and threaten Keshava's fellow students to testify against Keshava. No one came forward. Angrily, the principal ordered the school to be shut down, threatening the students with the loss of their academic year. After a month, no one "confessed". Finally, concerned parents negotiated a solution. Keshava was debarred from the school and the school was re-started.

Such was the idealism and unity that Keshava had inspired into his fellow students that no threats could unsettle their resolve. Principal Shri J.V.Oak, spoke highly of Keshava even after many years!

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