Bal Gangadhar Tilak 99th Death Anniversary: Facts to Know About ‘Swaraj’ Leader Who Awakened the Spirit For Complete Freedom
Bal Gangadhar Tilak is popularly known as Lokmanya Tilak in Maharashtra. The word Lokmanya is a Marathi term that loosely translates into “one who is held in high regard by the people” or respected by the masses.
Mumbai, August 1: Today marks the 99th death anniversary of revolutionary leader, thinker, writer and one of Maharashtra and India's leading social and political thinkers, Bal Gangadhar Tilak. The influential and pioneering figure was a scholar, mathematician, philosopher, nationalist and journalist par excellence.
Bal Gangadhar Tilak is popularly known as Lokmanya Tilak in Maharashtra. The word Lokmanya is a Marathi term that loosely translates into “one who is held in high regard by the people” or respected by the masses.
Facts on Bal Gangadhar Tilak:
1. Tilak along with his friends set up the Deccan Education Society in 1884 to teach India's youth nationalist ideas. The Fergusson College was established in 1885 where Tilak taught mathematics. In 1890 he left the Deccan Education Society.
2. Following the Partition of Bengal, Tilak encouraged the Swadeshi movement and the Boycott movement.
3. He formed a close alliance with many Indian National Congress leaders including Bipin Chandra Pal, Lala Lajpat Rai, and the trio was called Lal Bal Pal.
4. In 1916 he concluded the Lucknow Pact with Mohammed Ali Jinnah to strengthen Hindu-Muslim unity.
5. Tilak had been tried for Sedition Charges in three times by British India Government—in 1897, 1909 and 1916. He was sentenced to 18 months of imprisonment.
6. Tilak was sentenced to six years of jail to Mandalay in Myanmar from 1908 to 1914 for publishing articles in support of Bengali revolutionaries Prafulla Chaki and Khudiram Bose who threw bomb on a carriage at Muzzafarpur, to kill the Chief Presidency Magistrate Douglas Kingsford of Calcutta.
7. After his release in 1914, Tilak launched the Home Rule League with the rousing slogan “Swarajya is my birthright and I will have it.”
8. In 1916 he rejoined the Congress Party and signed the accord with Jinnah.
9. Inspite of being a nationalist, Tilak strongly opposed liberal trends emerging in Pune such as women's rights and social reforms against untouchability.
10. In 1894, Tilak transformed the household worshipping of Ganesha into a grand public event.
Besides these facts, there are a number of things to know about Tilak. Tilak's stance on education of girls and treatment of women in the Indian society remains a contested topic as he believed that the Britishers should have kept out of Hindu personal and family laws. Few people are aware that Lokmanya Tilak and Swami Vivekanand shared a close bond and Tilak was devastated to learn about the death of Swami Vivekanand, who died quite early. He was also called "The father of the Indian unrest," by the Britishers for his relentless struggle for India's Independence.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 01, 2019 07:00 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).