The arrival of Mrs. Annie Besant, Mr. Wadia and Mr. Arundale in Madras this morning [September 21] was announced in the daily papers last evening. The happy event was looked anxiously forward to by the people of Madras who had three months ago bid them farewell with anger on their brow and tears in their eyes. Madras had not apparently slept last night. The usually quiet City streets, were alive with singing crowds wending their way towards the Central Station throughout the night. When the day broke out about fifty Bhajana parties were singing outside the Central Station compound. “Mrs. Besant arrives in Madras to-morrow” was the chief talk among men in the City. Thousands of College students had assembled on the road side to witness the procession this morning.
One hour before the arrival of the Mettupalayam mail at the Central Station, by which Mrs. Besant, Messrs Wadia and Arundale arrived in Madras, all the available space in the platform was occupied by the thronging crowd. Still a ring was formed by the Guard of Honour furnished by the Boy Scouts with Home Rule flags and badges from Madanapalle under the control of Mr. C.S. Trilokikar within which the leading gentlemen of Madras took their stand to receive the patriots. Among those present were: Mr. S. Kasthuri Ranga Iyengar, Mr. Telang, Mr. A. Rangaswamy Iyengar, Mr. Govindarajulu Mudaliar, Dewan Bahadur P. Kesava Pillai, Dewan Bahadur V. Raghavacharlu, Dewan Bahadur A. Krishnaswamy Iyengar, Dewan Behadur Govindaraghava Iyer, Dr. Krishnaswamy Iyer, Mr. T.M. Krishnaswamy Iyer, Mr. A. Krishnaswamy Iyer, Mr. K.S. Anantharama Iyer [...] and many others representing various castes and professions.