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.

• 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.

• 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.