Second Trial Quote by Romila Thapar
““The second trial for sedition was in 1908 before Justice D. D. Davar, who had been his counsel in the first trial, and a jury of which seven Europeans returned a verdict of guilty while the two Indians, both Parsis, returned a verdict of not guilty. Justice Davar sentenced Tilak to six years’ transportation. At his third and last trial for sedition in 1916, he was successfully defended by Muhammad Ali Jinnah. Tilak had been ordered to execute a bond for Rs 20,000 ‘for good behaviour’ for ‘disseminating seditious matter’. Justices Batchelor and Shah quashed the order.””
About This Quote
Source Historical Record: British India Sedition Trials, 1908-1916
Tilak faced multiple sedition trials; outcomes varied by juror ethnicity, and he endured harsh sentencing before eventual legal reversal.
In simple terms: Tilak was tried for sedition, got mixed jury verdicts, and was sentenced, later defended.
Key Takeaway
Recognize how bias can affect justice and the importance of skilled defense.
Themes
justice
colonialism
bias
legal defense
Mood
reflective
critical
historical
Type
legal
historical
political
When to use this quote
- courtroom defense
- political activism
- colonial legal reform
- historical analysis
Key Concepts
seditious speech
colonial law
ethnic jury composition
Questions to Reflect On
- How did ethnic composition of juries influence verdicts?
- What role did skilled lawyers play in colonial trials?
A Different Perspective
Legal outcomes can be swayed by juror composition and political pressure.
![“During voir dire, the interviews for jury selection, each person is asked under oath about their experience with the criminal justice system, as defendant or victim, but usually not even the most elementary effort is made to corroborate those claims. One ADA [Associate District Attorney] told me…” quote by Edward Conlon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d1d/edward-conlon-33074_cops_during-voir-dire-the-interviews-for-jury_1540504.jpg)
