Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak
Source: FPJ
Context: On the death anniversary of Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Union Home Minister paid tribute, highlighting his role in transforming Swaraj into a mass movement.
About Bal Gangadhar Tilak:
Who He Was?
- Known as Lokmanya Tilak, he was a revolutionary nationalist, journalist, scholar, and freedom fighter.
- Famously called the “Father of Indian Unrest” by British colonial authorities.
Background:
- Born: July 23, 1856, in Ratnagiri, Maharashtra.
- Education: Studied at Deccan College, Pune. Graduated with a B.A. and LL.B.
- Co-founded Deccan Education Society and Fergusson College to promote Indian-run education.
Contributions to the Freedom Movement:
- Swaraj as Birthright: Popularised the slogan “Swaraj is my birthright and I shall have it.”
- Newspapers: Founded Kesari (Marathi) and The Mahratta (English) to educate and mobilise the public.
- Cultural Nationalism: Revived Ganesh Utsav (1893) and Shivaji Jayanti as tools of mass mobilisation and Hindu unity.
- Extremist Phase Leader: Led the Lal-Bal-Pal trio (with Lala Lajpat Rai and Bipin Chandra Pal) during the assertive phase of nationalism.
- Writings and Scholarship: Authored ‘Gita Rahasya’, ‘Arctic Home in the Vedas’, and ‘Orion’, showcasing his command over history, religion, and astronomy.
- Home Rule Movement (1916): Collaborated with Annie Besant to launch the Home Rule League, demanding self-governance within the British Empire.
Controversies and Imprisonment:
- Sedition Charges:
- Imprisoned multiple times for writings that incited resistance against British rule.
- Most notably jailed in 1897 and 1908 for inciting rebellion through his journalistic work.
- Differences with Moderates:
- Advocated direct action and opposed the moderate methods of prayer and petition during the split in the Surat session (1907) of INC.
Death:
- Died: August 1, 1920, in Mumbai.
- His death marked the end of an era, but his ideals continued to inspire the non-cooperation and civil disobedience movements.
