Bal Gangadhar Tilak (1856–1920)

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has paid tributes to Lokmanya Tilak on his birth anniversary. "He was a pioneering leader who played a vital role in kindling the spirit of India’s freedom movement with unwavering conviction", Prime Minister stated.

Bal Gangadhar Tilak (1856–1920)

• Birth: 23 July 1856, Ratnagiri, Maharashtra.
• Death: 1 August 1920, Mumbai.
• Known as Lokmanya Tilak – "accepted by the people as their leader".
• One of the earliest nationalist leaders to demand Swaraj and oppose British rule using mass-based political mobilization.

Educational and Cultural Contributions

• Deccan Education Society (1884): With G.G. Agarkar and others—aimed at Indian control over education.
• Fergusson College (1885): Aimed at promoting liberal and nationalistic education.
• Believed in cultural nationalism:
  • Ganesh Chaturthi & Shivaji Jayanti celebrations were tools of mass mobilization.
• Reinforced a collective Hindu identity to resist colonial suppression and unify masses.

Ideology & Political Philosophy

• Swaraj as birthright: Most radical slogan of the early nationalist phase.
• Opposed moderate constitutionalism; believed in direct action and mass awakening.
• His book Gita Rahasya interpreted the Bhagavad Gita as a call to action (karma yoga).
• Faith in Hindu cultural symbols often drew criticism for being exclusivist but played a vital role in mass awakening.

Role in Indian National Movement

Early Political Involvement

• Joined INC in 1890; initially worked with Moderates.
• Lal-Bal-Pal trio: Alongside Lala Lajpat Rai and Bipin Chandra Pal, formed the extremist faction of the Congress.

Surat Split (1907)

• Turning point where Congress split into Moderates and Extremists.
• The split weakened the national movement temporarily but also marked the rise of assertive nationalism.

Home Rule Movement (1916)

• Inspired by Irish Home Rule
• Started by Tilak (April 1916) and Annie Besant (September 1916).
• Tilak’s All India Home Rule League focused on Maharashtra, Central Provinces, Karnataka, and Berar.
• Mobilized English-speaking middle class and laid the groundwork for mass national politics.

Lucknow Pact (1916)

• Historic agreement between Congress and Muslim League.
• Marked a brief phase of Hindu–Muslim unity in the freedom struggle.
• Both parties agreed to joint constitutional reforms and separate electorates.

Newspapers and Writings

• Kesari (Marathi) and Mahratta (English) – powerful platforms for anti-colonial ideas and critique of British policies.
• ‘Gita Rahasya’: Commentary on Bhagavad Gita – presented it as a text of active resistance, not passive renunciation.
• ‘Arctic Home of the Vedas’: Controversial historical interpretation proposing Aryans originated in the Arctic region.

Imprisonment and Revolutionary Sympathy:

• Arrested in 1908 for seditious writings supporting Khudiram Bose and Prafulla Chaki.
• Imprisoned in Mandalay Jail (Burma) for six years (1908–1914).
• Regarded as the "Father of Indian Unrest" by British journalist Valentine Chirol.

Death:

• Passed away on 1 August 1920, shortly before the launch of Non-Cooperation Movement (1920) by Gandhi.
• His death marked the end of the first phase of assertive nationalism in India.