Bal Gangadhar Tilak

Bal Gangadhar Tilak (1856-1920) was the first popular leader who awakened the Indian consciousness and kindled the fire of freedom with the famous words – ‘Swaraj is my birthright, and I shall have it!’ Indian nationalist, social reformer, freedom fighter, father of Hindu Nationalism are some of the titles commonly attribute to him. Born in a simple Hindu middle class family in Ratnagiri, he was one of India's first generation of youth to receive a college education. Soon he joined a private school but found the rotten Western education system not of his taste and founded the Deccan Education Society to improve the system, which was only good enough to produce clerks for the British.

With the founding of the Marathi daily, Kesari, Tilak ventured into the political arena. Kesari soon caught the imagination of Indian public and Tilak vehemently attacked the wrong policies of British government. He joined the Indian National Congress in the 1890s but true to his character he soon found that the liberal and moderate attitude of the congress leaders will not lead the nation to freedom. His fierce attitude led to the splitting of Indian National Congress in 1906. In the same year he was arrested and was imprisoned for many years in Burma. Soon after his release he regrouped the nationalists and worked closely with the Indian National Congress.

Deeply rooted in the Hindu ethos, Tilak was a proponent of the Adwaita philosophy. The mass celebration of Ganesh Chaturthi festival was his brainchild to get a large gathering to address the problems facing the nation. He was the Guru of Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, who created the political doctrine of Hindu Nationalism. He also penned several books.

Quite often ignored by the ruling elite of the country, Bal Gangadhar Tilak earned the love and respect of the masses of the country and they still lovingly address him ‘Lokamanya’ meaning ‘beloved of the people.’