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Every aspect of A.G. Gardiner and Lokhitwadi’s essays is

separately discussed in comparison with each other. Both essayists wrote

essays which had educational, socio-political and socio-economic factors

in common. Both honestly strived for social reforms though different in

their style. Gardiner’s style of expression is witful, humourous and light

while Lokhitwadi’s harsh, attacking and heavy.

A.G. Gardiner and Lokhitwadi are realistic in their expressions.

They chose to deal with the facts which they knew best through the

medium of journalism. Merely the difference in the language of

expression distinguished them. Gardiner’s expression is in a globally

recognized language, while a regional language is Lokhitwadi’s medium

of communication. This comprehensiveness of language marked a big

difference between these two.

They were very committed essayists of their days, unfortunately

they were misunderstood by the contemporary societies. Ironic and comic

perceptions of life is Gardiner’s forte. Distilling humour out of realistic

situations comes to him quite naturally. He uses irony and humour for

satiric purpose and the comic is inextricably linked up with social and

moral criticism. He has an important place among the English essayists.

His position as an essayist is both secure and abiding. It is an indisputable

fact that Gardiner has excelled almost all other English essayists in

artistry. Most of his essays have a rounded perfection. He had

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consciously cultivated the art of essay writing which was evident from

the range and variety of his essays. Lokhitwadi was the pioneer of essay

writing who deeply influenced the essayists after him in Marathi

literature.

In fact, most of Gardiner’s essays reach the heights of humour and

pathos. He is entirely different from other English essayists in employing

the technique of essay writing. He is interested in the gentle social

comedy like R.K. Narayan. He is absolutely free from the tendency to

grow sentimental, unlike most of the English essayists. His creative

cosmos is distinctly his own. His field and mode of exploration is

different from those of other essayists. He is successful in drawing with

the minimum of words life-like and often humorous characters. An

all-pervasive comic often exuberance and a remarkable clarity of mind

are the most noteworthy qualities of Gardiner as a literary artist and

journalist. Indeed, it is the comic spirit that plays supreme role in all his

essays and this has made him rightly popular and captivating. It is this

sense of humour that has made these essays enduring.

There is a social purpose behind the comic mode. He observes life

in sociological and moral perspective which is an important feature of his

writing. Social concern continues to be the motivating factor in all of his

essays.

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This social concern has made Gardiner a satirically inclined writer.

His intolerance of the cant, hypocrisy, vanity and snobbery that are found

in the present day English Society has made him basically a satirist. He

adopts in his essays sanguine temperament coupled with the comic mode,

which made him a humorous satirist. He dugs the corruption of

politicians, the commercialization of material alliances, the illusion of

English leaders, the superciliousness of anglicized English, the

sanctimonious and hypocritical nature of the English people and the

inefficient and vulnerable bureaucrats. In spite of his preoccupation with

journalism Gardiner’s contribution to the world of prose is noteworthy

and cannot be ignored.

Lokhitwadi differs in using wit, satire, humour and comedy as

compared with A.G. Gardiner. He wrote in bitter, caustic and vitriolic

mode. He forced the people to follow him to see life in sociological and

moral perspective. Like Gardiner, social concern continues to be the

motivating factor in all of his essays. Both these essayists went to the

extent of commenting that in their essays, their social concern has come

off so well that literature has taken the back seat

Both emphasize the need to educate the contemporary society in

order to make them aware and strong enough to face the challenges of the

time to come. Both criticize the people for neglecting knowledge and

wasting their precious time on silly things. They think that it is

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knowledge which can bring change in the world. Without knowledge, no

progress is possible. They were the highly qualified and high class people

of their time. Both asked people to buy and read books in order to

become acquainted with the different fields of knowledge.

Lokhitwadi particularly emphasizes the need to educate women

because it is the only way to educate all as a woman is the mother of both

genders. In his opinion, through education, social evils in Hindu

community could be eradicated.

“ Lokhitwadi promoted emancipation and education of women and

wrote against arranged child marriages, dowry system and polygamy, all

of which were prevalent in India in his times. He promoted nationalistic

spirit in Maharashtra. He wrote against the evils of caste system which

was strongly prevalent in India in his times, condemned harmful Hindu

religious orthodoxy and attacked the monopoly in religious matters and

rituals which Brahmin priests had through a long tradition. It is

noteworthy that Lokhitwadi was a Brahmin by caste. He enunciated

certain 15 principles for bringing about religious reform in Hindu society.

Lokhitwadi founded a public library in Pune under the leadership of the

then governor of the state of Bombay, Henry Brown ”

( http://en.wikipedia.org/define/Gopal Hari Deshmukh ).

He edited Lokhitwadi, a monthly magazine in Marathi. Through

his writings he criticized the Brahmins for arresting the progress of the

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Hindu society by fostering anti-social traditions. He advocated widow-

remarriage and the raising of the social status of women, and condemned

child-marriage, tonsure of widows, caste system and slavery in any form

( http://mail.vandemataram.com, Phatak N.R. ).

Lokhiwadi not only wrote for journals but delivered speeches also

to spread awareness. He delivered lectures at Ahmedabad, Nashik and

Mumbai. At Ahmedabad, he arranged a series of lectures on behalf of the

Premanbhai Institute, and himself delivered many lectures under the

auspices of the Institute. The main topic of these lectures was, of course,

social reform. But other topics like politics, economics, religion, history,

industrialization and boycott of foreign goods were also discussed by

him.

The chief features of Gardiner and Lokhitwadi’s essays and their

art as essayists is analysed below -

1. Range and Variety of Subjects :

It is quite noteworthy that the overall background of both essayists

was totally different from each other as they are from two different

countries – one was ruler while other was ruled. Gardiner was a writer of

an independent country while Lokhitwadi was living and writing in a

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country which was ruled by English. Their courage lies in the adventure

of writing against the contemporary society.

According to Elizabeth Lee, “ The modern essayist takes all

subjects for his province : religion, politics, science, all forms of art, but

the close connection between these things and man’s life is never wholly

ignored, and many of our contemporary essayists reach a very high level

of thought and style ” ( quoted in Arora : 1996 : 35 ).

These remarks can be applied to Gardiner as well as Lokhitwadi.

The range of their subjects is very wide, their thoughts and style reach

the height of excellence. The variety of their essays can be seen in the

fact that they have written literary, social, educational, political,

economic, moral and philosophical essays and shown uniformity of

writing.

The variety of subjects of their essays can be measured by having a

look at the large number of subjects they have dealt with. Gardiner dealt

with the light subjects like courage, greatness, ignorance, superstitions,

dining, great men, manners, chewing and giving up tobacco, reading,

ancient people, resolutions, holidays, ideologies, traveling, pockets and

things, war legends, talk and talkers, comic genius, dogs, soldiers, wood,

clothes, early rising, word-magic, old age, art of letter-writing, habits,

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miracles, falling in love, cats, trains, tastes, hats, politeness, buying

books, warriors, lodging, seeing visions, cricket, painting, charm of

natural phenomena, the pleasures of waking up, birthday, growing age,

war, etc. While Lokhitwadi dealt with most controversial and socially

disputed subjects like education, widow-remarriage, library, laws, culture,

religious reform, scriptures, Sanskrit and English education, languages,

polity, luck, castes, creed, races, freedom, scholarship, Europe, women,

bribe, property, mercy, commerce, laziness, corruption, misuse of time,

history, blind faith, beggars, music, wastage of time, Roman civil laws,

heirship, political reforms, art of printing, life imprisonment, justice etc.

On Saying Please, All About a Dog, and On the Rule of the

Road written on Shaw, Hardy, Chesterton, Kipling are among Gardiner’s

literary essays. Umbrella Morals, On Courage and On Keyhole Morals

are some of his moral while On Thoughts at Fifty, On Being Idle, A

Fellow Traveller, The Philosophy of Hats and The Golden Age are his

philosophical essays.

In fact, almost all aspects of life, all types of human activity, and

all forms of thoughts and moods from the subject matter of his essays,

provide him with adequate material to write about. His eyes roll in every

direction, his imagination catches a glimpse of every object and

happening, and his productive pen and literary skill help him in

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describing these things in his essays. He could write on any subject in an

admirable manner. He seems to follow his own dictum contained in his

essays On Catching the Train. For him, writing and expression of views

was the important thing, and the subject served only as the first step to

motivate his pen to write so as to convey what he wanted, to his readers.

In Hindu Lokancha Aalshi Swabhav, Engrgee Vidya, Sanskrit

Vidya, Navin Granthanchi Aavashktaa, Shimagacha Durachar,

Vairagay, Maanas Paatra Va Dyanaas Paatra, Nirodhogipanachaya

Chhali, Dharma Sudharna, Striyaanchi Stithi, Poonarvivah,

Aargavipanaa Va Doulipanaa, Hindu Lokancha Vaapar,

Rajyasudharna, Hindusthancha Paradhintachi Kaarnay, Engrgee

Rajapaasun Laabh, Engrgee Rajapaasun Phal, Laach, Valacha

Varth Kharch, Brahmaan Lokancha Swabhav, Sardar Lok, Vaadvan

Konas Mhanavay ?, Europe Khandath Pravaas, Hindusthancha

Prachin Itihaas Kaa Naahi ?, Maharashtra Bhaasha Lokhitwadi not

only intensely discusses the issues like knowledge, religion, social

welfare, economy and polity but forces the people to follow him.

2. Journalistic Quality :

Journalistic writing consists of literature writtten in a hurry. The

writer for journals has to write within a specified limit of time, and within

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a limited length, on a topic of general interest, in such a manner so as to

appeal to even the most common reader. He has little time to give a

finishing touch, or impart a literary quality to his writing.

Gardiner was one of the most prominent and popular English

journalists and essayists of the 20th

century. Although, he started his

career as a journalist, and at first wrote biographical sketches and pen-

portraits for the Daily News and other journals, it is as a writer of

delightful, informative and instructive essays that he has won the greatest

recognition and fame in the field of literature. His journalistic writings

had a literary touch, and his essays, essentially literary as they are, carry a

streak of journalism and literature - into one. Though writing for journals

and newspapers, he never ceased to employ a literary manner in his

writings. Even his most ordinary essays and character-sketches are

marked by an excellence of style and mastery of craftsmanship. He may

be said to have, like George Orwell, raised journalism to the status of

literature by giving an artistic finish even to his most casual contributions

to journals. His essays bear ample testimony to his ability to turn

journalism into literature. As a writer of familiar and personal or informal

essays, Gardiner can be bracketed with prominent English essayists like

Lamb, Stevenson, Chesterton, Robert Lynd, Augustine Birrel, Max

Beerbohm, J.B. Priestley and others. Gardiner’s contribution to journals

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lend an enduring interest and appeal even to the most ephemeral subjects.

They are not mere pieces of hurried writing, but they are the pieces of

genuine literature. They have a journalistic quality in that they are written

in a simple, natural and conversational style, on subjects holding an

appeal for the common reading public.

Gardiner’s success as journalist is proved by the immense

popularity he enjoyed among readers in his own time, and by the

immense renown he won for the journals, especially the Star, in which

his essays were published. By training and profession, he was a journalist.

But he also had the temperament and skill of an essayist.

Gardiner and Lokhitwadi presented in their essays a nice blend of

journalism and literature. While preserving their qualities as pieces of

literature, they had given them a touch of journalism. They wrote essays

on interesting subjects of everyday life, just as a journalist would do. But

by dint of the broader view of life and their literary and stylistic skill,

they had turned them into enduring works of literature. They had raised

journalism to the level of literature by writing essays with a finished form

for various journals. Like the periodical essays of Addison and Steele,

Gardiner’s essays were contributed to journals, but they revealed his

serious social and moral concern, and his eagerness to bring about a

reform in the life and manners of the people living around him.

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Ourselves and Others, On Saying Please, On Courage, On the Rule of

the Road and Umbrella Morals and some of his essays possessing these

qualities.

Like Gardiner, Lokhitwadi also relied on journals to spread his

thoughts on social reforms because it was the only print medium to

directly communicate with the people at that time. No other medium in

Maharashtra was invented at that time which could reach the masses. Due

to unavailability of modern printing techniques, publication of a book

was a herculian task. Therefore he chose to express himself through

journals.

He wrote his Shatpatre, a bunch of 108 letters, serially, every

week from 19th

March 1848 to 26th

May 1850, for two consecutive years

in Bhau Mahajan’s periodical called Prabhakar, which was published

from Mumbai. These 108 essays were later on published in a collection

for the first time in a book named Lokhitwadikrit Nibandhsangrah in

1866. Some of his articles were published in monthly Lokhitwadi

published by Shree Press from Shivaji printing press, Pune and quarterly

Lokhitwadi published by the same press from April 1883 in series. He

also wrote articles in Dyanprakash, a periodical published from Pune.

He reprinted his essays from Shatpatre in Dyanprakash. Besides, he

independently published articles in ‘Bharatkhandatil Striaanchi Durdasha’

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on 15th

May 1849, ‘English Granth, Vidya va Dyan Yatadeshiya Lokaans

Prapta Honaavishyee’ on 1st April 1850 and ‘Dakshina Fandasambandhi

Patra’ on 2nd

July 1849.

He not only wrote for Marathi journals, but also expressed his

straightforward thoughts through Gujarati journals. His Patra kramaank 1,

2, 3, 4 regarding widow remarriage were published in Arydyanvardak, a

Gujarati monthly published from Mumbai. Another Gujarati monthly

Buddhiprakash published from Ahmedabad published his articles like

‘Sanskrit Grantho Vishay’ in May 1873, ‘Sanskrit Vishay’ in August

1873, ‘Kaalano Upyog’ in December 1873, ‘Ishwar Uparna Bhav Vishay’

in December 1873, ‘Jagatkarta Parmeshwar Chay Tey Vishay’ in March

1874, ‘Chandipath’ in March 1875, ‘ Maa Baapni Chokra Vishani

Vartunuk’ in April 1875, ‘Kelwani’ in May 1875, ‘Upnishvinay’ in June

1875, ‘Brahmonona Gotra Tatha Pravar Vishay’ in July 1875,

‘Rishivishay’ in August 1875, ‘Shreemad Bhagwatgeeta’ in October

1875, ‘Agharni Athva Simant Vishay’ in April 1878. Apart, he published

articles translated in Jugrathi numbering 109, 110, 111, 112, 125, 134,

145, 162, 164, 166, 173 as well as a translation of a book in Gujarati

named Khoti Saaksh Deyu Nayay from monthly ‘Buddhiprakash’.

He also published an article related to widow remarriage ‘Miseries

and Crimes incidental to Brahmin widowhood ; with suggestions for their

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removal.’ in Bombay Times and Journal of Commerce, an English

fortnightly, published from Mumbai on 10th

June 1848.

Articles on different subjects like ‘The Jain view of Om’, was

published in May, 1880, ‘Synopsis of the Aryan Literature’, in July 1880,

Beggers in India’, in November 1880, ‘Sacred places of India’, in

December 1880, ‘Hindu Chronology’, in January 1881, ‘Dnyaneshwari :

The Book from the Tomb’, in May 1881, ‘Sacred Indian Trees’, in

August 1881, and ‘The Great Sadhus of India’, in May 1882 were

published in Theosophist, a magazine of Theosophical Society. Being a

citizen of a multilingual country like India, Lokhitwadi wrote not only in

his mother tongue Marathi, but for Gujarati and English journals too.

Gardiner had not faced this problem of expressing in more than one

language.

3. Anecdotes :

Gardiner’s essays abound in the elements of description, narration

and reflection. He described persons, situations and activities in a lively

manner. He narrated episodes and presented amusing anecdotes to

illustrate his point and then he conveys his reflections on various matters.

His essays usually begin with the narration of some anecdote. For

example, ‘On Saying Please’ begins with the reference to the episode of

the throwing out of a passenger by the lift-man from the lift, because of

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the former’s not using the word ‘Please’ while asking the latter to take

him to the top floor. On the Rule of the Road begins with the reference

to the old lady walking in the middle of the street in Petrograd, Ourselves

and Others opens with the description of the golf-player who remained

too much absorbed in his own ideas and activity to pay heed to the

convenience of others. Such a beginning of Gardiner’s essays can be said

to be highly dramatic, and sets their tone. Even when an essay does not

begin with narration of an episode, it does begin dramatically.

For example, On Great Men begins thus : “ I was reading just now,

apropos of a new work on Burke, the estimate of his expressed by

Macaulay…..,” ( Gardiner : 1920 : 142 ) and On Being Idle has this

beginning : ‘I have long laboured under a dark suspicion that I am an idle

person…..” ( Ibid : 246 ) Even a reflective essay On Smiles begins in a

dramatic manner with the remark : “ If I were to be born into the world

again and had that choice of my endowments I should arrange carefully

about my smile ” ( 1924 : 193 ).

Starting dramatically, Gardiner’s essays proceed to convey his

reflections and views on the subject he is dealing with. Again, after an

expression of his views, he presents various anecdotes and concrete

examples to illustrate them. He also gives a vivid portrayal of persons and

situations in order to prove his point. For example, in All About a Dog,

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his description of the passengers of the bus stopped by the conductor on a

deserted road in a chilly night, is meant to support his view that an

unthinking insistence on the observance of rules may lead to much

inconvenience and annoyance among others. In On the Rule of the

Road, the picture of a gramophone playing the song ‘Keep your home

fires burning’ and thus disturbing the peace of his neighbours, is meant to

show how the unrestrained liberty of an individual may clash with the

liberty of others to enjoy their life.

Such description of persons, situations and episodes is followed by

an expression of Gardiner’s concluding remarks on the subject of his

essays, which seems to sum up the opinions expressed by him. The essays

end on a note of reflection which comes as a sort of moral tagged there.

Examples of such reflections can be given from On Thoughts at Fifty :

“ It is pleasant to walk home when the shadows are lengthening and the

cool of the evening has come, ” (1916 : 136) or from On Saying Please :

“ I hope the lift-man will agree that his (Chesterfield’s) revenge was

much more sweet than if he had flung the fellow into the mud ”

(1924 : 32). Thus, the essays of Gardiner are well constructed pieces with

a dramatic beginning, expository middle, and an end comprising a

summing up of views expressed earlier, and the statement of the moral.

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Lokhitwadi also described persons, situations and activities in a

lively manner. He too narrated episodes but unlike Gardiner presented

attacking anecdotes to illustrate his point and then conveyed his

reflections on various serious matters. His essays usually begin with

colloquial anecdotes. He first narrated how the practice of a particular

tradition continued aimlessly for years and then tried to prove it outdated

and useless with the help of his evidences. In Patra Number 2

Lahanpanachaa Adchani, he first exposed the tradition of child

marriage, then proved its fruitlessness. In Patra Number 13 Vaait

Chalichay Prakar, he first narrated forty misconducts, then appealed the

people to think over it to honour or dishonour them by answering. In

Patra Number 31 Engrgee Vidya, at the beginning, misconceptions of

Sanskrit scholars is narrated, then he explicated the importance of English

education. In Patra Number 32 Laach, he exposed Hindu employees for

receiving bribe. In his opinion, corruption is a practice which demoralized

them.

4. Self-revelation :

Gardiner was a writer of personal essays, and wrote in an intimate

and familiar manner. While writing about various matters, he gave

expression to his views, opinions, beliefs and preferences. His essays also

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revealed some aspects of his character and personality. For example, his

idle nature is exposed in On Being Idle.

In Ourselves and Others, one finds him the lover of golf. On

Thoughts at Fifty and On Living Again reveal his interest in and

knowledge of cricket. The literary allusions scattered through several of

his essays, reveal his wide reading and interest in various authors and

their works. On Great Men reveals his knowledge of and opinions about

various men of eminence in different fields of life.

In On Catching the Train, he tells us about his apprehensiveness

in matters of catching the train. His love of traveling frequently is

revealed through the fact that several essays like On Catching the Train,

All About a Dog and On Saying Please contain references to some

journey by bus or by train.

In the essay In Defence of Ignorance, Gardiner confessed his

ignorance of several subjects and in various fields. Thus, self-revelation is

a significant quality in his essay, because his chief traits as a man and a

writer are revealed. They are considered to be unconnected bits of his

autobiography.

Lokhitwadi’s essays too revealed some aspects of his character and

personality. In Patra Number 140 Engrej Sarkar, he praised English

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rulers for their wisdom and industriousness. In Patra Number 141

Varkari Panth, he manifested his religiousness by mentioning slogans of

great Marathi saints Tukaram, Namdev, Dyaneswar and Ramdas. In

Patra Number 85 Dyan Haach Parakram, he expected educational as

well as political reforms by enhancing scholarship.

5. Social and Moral Concern :

Gardiner had written essays on the most trivial subjects in a simple

and delightful manner. These essays are marked by gaiety and

cheerfulness and are tempered with touches of genial humour. However,

their apparent gaiety hides a serious social and moral concern. He had a

knowledge of the ills of contemporary society, and wanted to cure them.

He also wanted to raise the standard of the manners and morals of people

around him. He, therefore employed the medium of the Essay to fulfil his

reformative purpose, and to inculcate the habits of decent social and

moral conduct among them. For this, he did not adopt the method of

direct preaching or sermonizing but gave concrete illustrations in support

of the views he wished to convey others. His essays like On Saying

Please, Ourselves and Others, On the Rule of the Road are meant to

emphasise the importance of small civilities and decent behaviour in daily

intercourse. On Being Idle explicts the significance of hard work. The ill

consequences of excessive use of individual liberty are pointed out in On

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the Rule of the Road. Thus, a deep social and moral concern underlies

almost all of his essays.

Lokhitwadi seems serious about the social and moral problems of

the contemporary society more than Gardiner. He wanted to raise the

standard of the manners and morals of people around him. In the essays

Hinduncha Jaatibhed, Hindusthanchay Rajya, Maharashtra Bhasha,

Sardar Lok, Lagne, Vidvha Poonarvivahavishai, Dan Dharma

Karne, Karma Mhanje Kaaya?, he is concerned with the overall

problems of the Hindus living in Pune like caste discrimination, regional

language, widow re-marriage, charity, righteousness, etc.

6. Touches of Humour :

Gardiner’s serious social and moral concern is not able to

overshadow or suppress his broad human sympathy and his tolerant

attitude towards his fellow beings. He is disturbed by the ills besetting the

society and the people around him, but he is rarely embittered by these

ills. He is amused at the spectacle of human follies and weaknesses and

tries to laugh them away with the help of a lighthearted and humorous

treatment. The description of the old lady walking in the middle of a

street in Petrograd in On the Rule of the Road is highly humorous. And

so is that of the young lady with the Pekinese Dog in All About a Dog. A

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touch of sparkling laughter is found in On Saying Please in the

description of the liftman behaving rudely with the passenger as a result

of the rude treatment by his employer who “ had been henpecked at

breakfast by his wife, to whom the cook had been insolent because the

house maid had ‘answered her back’, ” ( Gardiner : 1924 : 27 ) A fine

humorous incident is described in the essay In Defence of Ignorance

wherein Gardiner tells us about a school boy who, when asked where the

diaphgarm was, replied : “ Please, Sir, in North Straffordshire ”

( 1919 : 33 ). Such exquistie touches of humour are found in his essays in

abundance and often they tend to verge on sarcasm and satire. He dealt

with the most serious subjects in such a manner so as to amuse the reader

with the description of comic situations and moments of humour.

There is no humour in Lokhitwadi’s essays. His serious social and

moral concern overshadowed or suppressed his broad human sympathy

and his tolerant attitude towards his fellow beings. He is deeply disturbed

by the ills besetting the society and the people around him, he is

completely embittered by these ills. He does not look amused at the

spectacle of human follies and weaknesses like Gardiner. On the contrary,

he is furious, reprimanding, scornful and attacking in his approach. He

never took anything lightheartedly. He treated every social evil as a threat

to humanity and wished to eradicate it. There is no humour throughout

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his 195 essays. Lokhitwadi is more committed than Gardiner in his

mission of social reforms which could be seen in his essays like Patra

Number 3 – Poonayat Liberarychi Staphana, Patra Number 7 –

Chapnaychi Kala Aani Mahatarpani Lagna, Patra Number 22 –

Jativishai Vichar, Patra Number 24 – Nashibawar Havala, Patra

Number 56 – Naadvidya, Patra Number 129 – Hindusthanchi

Manodevta, Patra Number 144 – Sampatti Mhanajay Kaaya, etc.

7. Allusiveness :

Scattered through most of Gardiner’s essays are allusions to

different social, political and literary personalities such as Bismarck.

Cromwell, Shakespeare, Milton, Chesterfield, Pitt, Burke, and the like.

These allusions revealed his interest in men and affairs, and his insight

into the personality and work of different persons. His ability to analyse

the characteristic traits of various men is revealed in his critical

references to them in his essays like On Great Men, On Smiles, and

others. His assessment of Bismarck in On Great Men amply revealed his

powers to analyse the chief traits of a man’s character and personality. He

remarks, “ I regard Bismarck as a bad man, but it would be absurd to dent

that he was a great man. He towers over the nineteenth century like a

baleful ogre, a sort of Bluebeard, terrible, sinister, cracking his heartless,

ruthless jests, heaving with his volcanic wrath, cunning as a serpent,

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merciless as a tiger, but great beyond challenge, gigantic, barbaric, a sort

of mastodon of the primeval world, born as a terrific afterthought of

nature ” ( 1920 : 143 ).

In the essay On Thoughts at Fifty, he referred to Archdeacon

Jones of Liverpool, and conveyed his views on old age and youth. In On

Smiles, he referred to several prominent men like Roosevelt, Woodrow

Wilson, Phillip II, Frederic Lamond, the great pianist and presented a

comparative analysis of their smiles. In a social essay like On Saying

Please, he has told the story of the polite behaviour of Lord Chesterfield.

In it, he points out the value of good manners in social life and

emphasises the importance of courtesy and politeness in our daily

behaviour. In a simple, natural and anecdotal manner, Gardiner shows

how polite speech and manner sweeten the atmosphere around us and

how discourtesy and ill-manners spoil it.

Besides references to social and political personalities, allusions to

several authors and their works are found in Gardiner’s essays. These

allusions to prominent writers and books revealed his faculty of critical

judgement. For example, in On Waking Up, he referred to Shakespeare’s

Macbeth and to George Herbert and Byron. In On Great Men, he alluded

to Chaucer, Shakespeare, Milton, Burke, Dickens and brought out their

greatness in the field of literature. He called Shakespeare “ the greatest

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thing we have done. ”, ( Ibid : 144 ) and remarked about Milton.

“ Milton plays the moon to Shakespeare’s sun. He breathed his mighty

harmonies into the soul of England like a god. He gave us the note of the

sublime, and his influence is like a natural element, all-pervasive,

intangible, indestructible ” ( Ibid ). In Ourselves and Others, one finds

allusions to Hilaire Belloc, Oliver Goldsmith and Emily Bronte’s novel

Wuthering Heights about which he observed : “ It is many years since I

read Wuthering Heights, but I remember how the gloom and oppression

which hang about that powerful book are created by such trifling

incidents as the meeting of father and son in the morning without a word

of greeting ” (1924 : 175).

In On the Rule of the Road, there is an allusion to Sterne’s novel

‘Tristram Shandy’ and Stevenson’s ‘Treasure Island’. In Defence of

Ignorance contains references to Plato, Dante and Carlyle. Thus,

Gardiner’s essays are marked by the quality of allusiveness and contain

references not only to English authors and their works but also to the

great writers of other countries that reveal Gardiner’s wide reading and

his acquaintance with a host of writers and their works. The allusions to

figures other than literary ones, revealed his familiarity with prominent

social, political and historical personalities.

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There is rarely an allusion to different personalities in Lokhitwadi’s

essays. He was not at all interested in men and their affairs. He is mainly

concerned with the society and its traditions. All of his essays are

shocking and unfamiliar to the reading public. He is a harsh critic of most

of the social ills of his time in the essays like Patra Number 1 – English

Lokanchay Vaktimatracha Gairsamjutivishai, Patra Number 53 –

Man Haych Ishwar, Patra Number 54 – English Rajyapasun Phal,

Patra Number 80 – Kamti Kashachi, Patra Number 91 – Dhan

Dharma Karnay, Patra Number 97 – Sushiksha Va Puntoji Aani

Sanskurit Vidya, Patra Number 98 – Doul Va Native Raje, Patra

Number 105 – Poonarvivah, etc.

8. Love and Treatment to Nature :

Irrespective of whatever subject he dealt with, Gardiner never

missed an opportunity to portray the beauty of Nature at various places in

his essays. He seemed to be acutely sensitive to the charms of Nature,

watches them with the eye of a poet and portrays with a minuteness of

detail and fidelity to facts. His descriptions of Nature are vivid and

pictorial, and convey faithfully his impressions of her manifestations in

the external world. In On Waking Up, he described the joyous

experience of waking up in the morning. He gave a picture of the

morning with “ the sunlight streaming over the valley and the beach

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woods glowing with the rich fires of autumn ” ( 1920 : 201 ). He found

that “ All the functions of nature are agreeable ” and felt delight in

“ hearing the happy jangle of the birds ” ( Ibid : 203 - 204 ). and saw ‘the

snow-covered landscape in winter’, and ‘the golden fields of the harvest

time.’ In All About a Dog, he described ‘a bitterly cold night’ with the

‘east wind that raved along the street’ cutting like a knife. On Catching

the Train ends with a poetic description of ‘the slope of the hillside,

black against a night sky.’ A symbolical use of the natural landscape is

made in the concluding lines of the essays On Thoughts at Fifty wherein

Gardiner wrote with reference to old age : “ It is pleasant to walk home

when the shadows are lengthening and the cold of the evening has

come ” ( 1916 : 136 ). In On Being Idle, the natural world of the honey-

bees served as a medium of conveying the lessons of hard work. In it,

Gardiner presents minutely observed pictures. Thus, Gardiner’s essays

are embellished with exquisite descriptions of Nature that have a visual

appeal.

Lokhitwadi never portrayed the beauty of Nature at any place in his

essays. He seemed to be insensitive to the charms of Nature, he only

pointed out the shortcomings and flaws in the society. From the

beginning to the end, he kept himself busy in pointing out and attacking

the social misconducts of the people and forced them to adopt his

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solutions for improvement. The best examples of this type are

Patra Number 2 – Lahanpanchay Lagnapasun Adchani, Patra

Number 3 – Poonayat Liberarychi Staphana, Patra Number 6 –

Shaktamarg, Patra Number 8 – Junaya Samjuti, Patra Number 17 –

Brahmananchay Adnayan, Patra Number 25 – Rajyasudharna,

Patra Number 28 – Vidhinishydh Dharmachay Mule, Patra Number

43 – Nirodhogipanachayaa Chali, etc.

9. Breadth of Vision :

As an essayist, Gardiner did not confine himself to the treatment of

particular subjects or the portrayal of people belonging to a particular

class. His vision was broad and all embracing, including all aspects of

English life. He had a wide view of life and is eager to make human

existence bearable and full of gaiety. He strives after an all round

improvement in the tone of human life and uses the weapon of humour to

ridicule the ills besetting mankind in order to caution us against an

indulgence in them. His insistence on the importance of civilized

behaviour and decent conduct in daily life, is of universal interest. Not

only the English people, but people all over the world may benefit from

the observance of rules and enforcement of civilities of behaviour

emphasized by Gardiner. His essays bring the whole humanity within

their compass and reveal his broader human sympathies.

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While Lokhitwadi confined himself to the treatment of a particular

subject i.e. social reform. His vision is narrow and restricted to the

various aspects of Indian life. Unike Gardiner, he portrays and condemns

people belonging to a particular class in the essays like Patra Number 50

– Swarajyatil Vidwan, Patra Number 51 – Hindu Lokaanchi Dravya

Upyogavishayee Samjut, Patra Number 130 – Sanskruit Vidya, Patra

Number 171 – Brahmin Lok Va Bhiksha, Patra Number 172 – Kashi

Yatra, Patra Number 7 - Chapnyachi Kala Aani Mhatarpani Lagna,

Patra Number 4 – Rajyasudharna, etc. .

10. Style of Writing :

Gardiner’s style of writing is simple and informal hence appeals

the reader highly. Ease and spontaneity is the prominent feature of his

writing. Critic A.S. Colling called it as “ the light easy talk of an ordinary

thoughtful man ” ( quoted in Arora : 1996 : 42 ).

By giving concrete examples and allusions, he lent weight to his

views on different issues of public interest. His thinking is clear and his

expressions lucid. The vividness of his portrayal of persons and situations

is conductive to the effective conveyance of his views. The practical

wisdom contained in his essays is easily digestible. The earnestness of his

social and moral concern lent a lasting appeal to his writing. His didactic

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intention is clothed in the unassuming nature of his arguments and the

genial nature of his humour. In fact, the treatment of subjects in his

essays is more important than the subjects themselves, and contributed to

his popularity and appeal. The practicability of his views and suggestions

is matched by factful treatment of them. The informal tone in On Saying

Please or Ourselves and Others is helpful in persuading the reader to

agree with his views and enjoy his treatment.

Lokhitwadi’s style of writing is complex and formal which is

difficult to understand. He spoke about the embarrassing issues disliked

by the people. There is no ease and spontaneity in his writing. His essays

are written in a tough unconversational style. He did not take the reader

into confidence, did not convey his bitter thoughts in an interesting and

engaging tone. Examples are Patra Number 11 – Brahmananchay

Achar, Patra Number 13 – Wayit Chalichay Prakar, Patra Number

15 – Lagnavishai Vichar, Patra Number 19 – Hindu Lokancha Aalshi

Swabhav, Patra Number 22 – Jaativishai Vichar, Patra Number 35 –

Maanas Va Daanas Patra, etc.

11. Simplicity and Clarity :

Gardiner pointed out the ills of society and tried to reform the

manners and morals of contemporary people and society. He had a

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comprehensive vision of life, and observed all aspects of social, political

and moral life of people around him. His thinking on various matters was

clear and unassuming. These qualities of his character are reflected in his

style which is marked by simplicity, naturalness and clarity. His style is

not difficult like Browne’s nor affected, verbose and pompous like Dr.

Johnson’s, but simple and clear like George Orwell’s. Although he makes

an occasional use of figures of speech like simile and metaphor, his style

is not rhetorical or ornamental. It is plain and lucid and reflects the

simplicity of his life and clarity of his thought. This quality of simplicity

is illustrated through the lines from the essay Ourselves and Others as :

“ We may prefer to forget our birthdays we like

other people to remember them. We like them

to remember the day as an assurance that they

remember us. We live by the affections, and our

happiness depends much more than we are aware

of upon the conviction that we have a place in the

hearts and memories of others ” ( Gardiner : 1924 : 174 ).

Lokhitwadi too pointed out the ills of society and wished to reform

the manners and morals of contemporary people and society in a very

straightforward way. He had a comprehensive vision of life, and observed

all aspects of social, political and moral life of people around him.

Though his thinking on various matters was absolutely clear, his nature

was rude and assuming. Examples are Patra Number 16 – Vidva

Poonarvivahavishai, Patra Number 17 – Brahamananchay Adynan,

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Patra Number 18 – Arjavipana Va Doulipana, Patra Number 26 –

Vairagya, Patra Number 28 – Shastrachay Mule, Patra Number 80 –

Kamati Kashachi, etc.

12. Economy and Precision :

Gardiner wrote short character sketches and essays. But tried to

make them complete in themselves by writing economically and precisely

avoiding superfluity and prolixity. He expresses his views and conveys

his impressions of people and events in the fewest possible words. He is

frugal in the use of words and precise in his use of language. He does not

employ a vocabulary consisting of abstract words, nor does waste time in

explaining abstract notions. He used so many English words like

‘barrister’, ‘library’, ‘company’, ‘laws’, ‘magazines’, ‘native’,

‘governor’, ‘revolution’ to maintain economy and precision of language.

He presents concrete facts vividly and precisely which can be see

in On Saying Please in the lines “ We infect the world with our ill-

humours. Bad manners probably do more to poison the stream of the

general life than all the crimes in the calendar ” ( Ibid : 27 ) as well as in

On Smiles in the lines “ The most memorable smiles are those which

have the quality of the unexpected. A smile that is habitual rarely pleases,

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and the essence of a smile is its spontaneity and lack of deliberation ”

( Ibid : 196).

Lokhitwadi is also precise in his use of language. But he does not

waste time in explaining abstract notions like Gardiner. He directly says

everything in reprimanding manner which could be seen in essays like

Patra Number 37 – Devpuja, Patra Number 43 –

Niroydhogipanachaa Chali, Patra Number 55 – Puranatil Dnyan,

Patra Number 60 – Hindu Lokani Kaya Karave ?, Patra Number 74

– Davlay Va Nemdharma etc.

13. Language and Words :

Gardiner’s prose style is marked by the use of ordinary and plain

language of daily speech, common words and phrases. He dealt with

everyday morals and manners, and employed the common words and

language used by ordinary men in their daily life. He remarked, in On

Big Words, “ We do not make a thing more impressive clothing in it

grand words any more than we crack a nut more neatly by using a sledge

hammer ; we only distract attention from the thought to the clothes it

wears ” ( Ibid : 103 ). He is of the opinion that “ Quite ordinary words

employed with a certain novelty and freshness can wear distinction that

gives them not only significance but a strange and haunting beauty ”

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( Ibid : 104 ). This principle of avoidance of grand words and the use of

ordinary words is followed by Gardiner himself and is illustrated through

his own writing. There is no extravagance in his words, nor an

affectedness in his use of language. Even serious thoughts are expressed

by him in ordinary language, such as when he remarks in On Saying

Please : “ The pain of a kick on the shins soon passes away, but the pain

of a wound to our self respect may poison a whole day ” ( Ibid : 26 ). Or

when he writes in On Being Idle : “ Most of us say things about

ourselves that we should not like to hear other people say about us. We

say them in order that they may not be believed ” ( Ibid ).

Lokhitwadi’s prose style is marked by the use of an extraordinary

and demanding language of his own. He did not use words from daily

speech, common words and phrases. He dealt with everyday morals and

manners, and employed the uncommon words and language used by

scholars. In Patra Number 89 English Sarkar, he stated, ‘without

changing our day to day behaviour, our country can never achieve

progress. Departure of English from India, will lead to chaos because

Indian people are incapable of ruling the country’

( Lokhitwadi : 1850 : 223 ).

In Patra Number 117 Europekhandath Prawas, he wrote, ‘the

person who travelled four countries, cannot be deceived because he

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becomes wise by gaining the experiences of the world’

( 1862 : 299 ).

14. Expressions and Sayings :

The economy of Gardiner’s writing is to be seen in his condensed

statements and pithy sayings on various matters. His essays abound in

pithy expressions like those found in Bacon’s. These expressions convey

his views and reflections in a concise and terse manner, and may be

regarded as consisting of words of wisdom that are effective in

convincing the reader. Through these pithy sayings, Gardiner is able to

say much in a few words and confine the length of his essays and

sketches to the limits imposed by the journalistic nature of his writing. A

few examples of his pithy expressions are: ‘The art of defence is attack’

( Gardiner : 1920 : 246 ), “ the most memorable smiles are those which

have the quality of the unexpected ” ( 1924 : 196 ), “ take away the

uncertainty of life, and you take away all its magic ” ( 1916 : 89 ), “ let us

suspect all rumours whether about events or persons ” ( Ibid : 51 ),

“ liberty is not a personal affair only, but a social contract. It is an

accommodation of interest ” ( 1919 : 224 ), “ there is more harmony and

equality in life than we are apt to admit ” ( 1920 : 204 ). All these

condensed expressions are easily expandable into paragraphs and provide

food to the mindful reader.

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There are no condensed statements and pithy sayings in

Lokhitwadi’s writing. He discusses the situations on various matters of

social concern.

15. Quotations :

Gardiner frequently quoted from various authors and works to

support the views expressed or statements in his writings. The range of

such authors and works is very wide. The use of appropriate quotations

made his essays more convincing. For example in On the Rule of the

Road, he quoted Henry Tooke and Hazlitt ; in On Great Men, he quoted

from Henry Fielding, Carlyle, Burke. ; in On Waking Up, he quoted

George Herbert and poet Alfred Austin ; in On Thoughts at Fifty, he

quoted Archdeacon John of Liverpool, lines from the poems of Shelley

and Byron, in On Living Again, he quoted lines from Ulysses,

Tennyson’s famous poem, in On Catching the Train, he quoted lines

from William Cowper’s poem. This abundant use of quotations from

various sources glorified the literary quality of Gardiner’s essays.

Being the pioneer of Marathi essay form, Lokhitwadi had a little

chance to quote other authors and their works to support his views or

statements. The range of such authors and works in his writings is very

narrow as compared to Gardiner. He concisely mentions sholaks from

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Manusmarti written by the great poet Ved Vayas, Gita, Bhagwatgita,

most praised Hindu mythological books, four Vedas Rugved, Yajurved,

Atharvved and Samved, Kuran, Muslim mythology, old Hindu

scriptures, British Queen’s Manifesto and Sanskrit sholaks of

Maharashtrian saints like Tukaram, Dyaneshwar, Ramdas Swami,

Namdeo to support his views.

16. Figures of Speech :

Gardiner’s prose style is decorated with the use of figures of

speeches like simile and metaphor. Few examples of his beautiful similes

are – ‘he towers over the nineteenth century like a baleful ogre……’

( Gardiner : 1920 : 143 ), ‘but near by lives a distinguished lady of

romantic picaresque tastes, who dotes on street-pianos, and attracts them

as wasps are attracted to a jar of jam ’ ( 1919 : 229 ), ‘the smiles that

dwell in the mind most are those that break suddenly like sunshine from

unexpected places’ ( 1924 : 196 ) etc.

Few examples of his metaphors are – ‘ Milton plays the moon to

Shakespeare’s sun ’ ( 1920 : 144 ), “ Please ” and “ Thank you ” are the

small change with which we pay our way as social beings’

( 1924 : 27 )

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Lokhitwadi’s prose style is beautified with firm, stout, and

determined spontaneity of expressions instead of compassion, pity and

mercy. Throughout his essays he instructed the society for its

unreasonable behaviour. His language is very rigorous, blunt and without

figures of speeches. He targets a particular community for its

misbehaviour.