On the occasion of Lokmanya Tilak’s 162nd birth anniversary, we take a glance at the freedom fighter’s extraordinary life
Born as Keshav Gangadhar Tilak, Bal Gangadhar Tilak (or Lokmanya Tilak) was one of the first leaders of the Indian Independence movement. He was called as the ‘Father of the Indian unrest’ by the British colonial authorities. ‘Lokmanya’, which means “accepted by the people (as their leader)”, was a title conferred to him.
Tilak graduated from Deccan College, Pune in 1877 and was amongst one of the first generation of Indians to receive a college education. After graduating, Tilak started teaching mathematics at a private school in Pune. Later, due to ideological differences with the colleagues in the new school, he withdrew and became a journalist.
Tilak joined the Indian National Congress in 1890, though he opposed its moderate attitude, especially towards the fight for self-government.
Tilak was one of the first and strongest advocates of Swaraj (“self-rule”) and a strong radical in Indian consciousness. His famous declaration “Swaraj is my birthright, and I shall have it” served as an inspiration for future revolutionaries during India’s struggle for freedom.
Tilak was the ‘Bal’ in the triumvirate Lal, Bal, Pal who advocated the Swadeshi movement involving the boycott of all imported items and the use of Indian-made goods in 1907 during the anti-Partition agitation in Bengal which began in 1905. Lal being Lala Lajpat Rai and Bipin Chandra Pal was the third leader.
During his lifetime among other political cases, Bal Gangadhar Tilak had been tried for Sedition Charges in three times by British India Government—in 1897, 1909, and 1916.
Although a fierce nationalist, Tilak was quite conservative in his thinking and strongly opposed liberal trends emerging in Pune. For example, he opposed the establishment of Pune’s first Native girls High school (now called Huzurpaga) using his newspapers, the Mahratta and Kesari. He also opposed inter-caste marriages, particularly upper caste woman marrying a lower caste man.Tilak also opposed the age of consent bill which raised the age of marriage from 10 to 12 for girls, however, he was willing to sign a circular that increased age of marriage for girls to 16 and 20 for boys.He also believed Hindu women were meant to be homemakers and that they should not get modern education.
In 1894, Tilak transformed the household worshipping of Ganesha into a grand public event called Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav. Events like the Ganapati festival and Shiv Jayanti were used by Tilak to build a national spirit beyond the circle of educated elite in opposition to colonial rule.
In the 1880s, Tilak founded The Deccan Education Society which still runs institutions in Pune like the Fergusson College.
The Swadeshi movement started by Tilak at the beginning of the 20th century became part of the Independence movement until that goal was achieved in 1947.
