The Father of Indian Unrest: Bal Gangadhar Tilak

‘स्वराज्य हा माझा जन्मसिद्ध हक्क आहे आणि तो मी मिळवणारच’

"Swarajya is my Birthright and I will get it."

We have read and learned various anecdotes of Lokmanya Tilak, which often showcased his affection for Maths, ambitions for a complete Swaraj, and a strict character.

On August 1, 2020, we are witnessing the 100th death anniversary of the leader Lokamanya Tilak.

Unlike Gandhiji, Tilak preferred a different approach to secure Independence. As polarised the environment was, among the Moderates and Extremists, Tilak led the Extremist camp. For his inflammatory speeches and articles in his publications "Kesari", he was called "The Father Of Indian Unrest" by the British. He was also addressed as the Maker of Modern India by Gandhiji.

Early Life:-

Keshav Gangadhar Tilak(actual name of "Lokmanya Tilak") was born on 23rd July 1856 in a Hindu Marathi Chitpavan Brahmin Family in Ratnagiri. As a child, he was fond of Mathematics and Sanskrit. At an early age, Tilak lost both his parent and got married to Tapibai at the age of 16.

Influences on Lokmanya Tilak-

Tilak was highly influenced by his father. He extensively read the works of western liberal thinkers like Hegel, Kant, Spencers, Mill, and Rousseau. He deeply believed in our ancient culture, Geeta, and Vedas. The fundamental idea of "Swarajya", which was proposed by Tilak, was driven from his knowledge of Vedas and spirituality.

Education and Idea on Education-

Tilak completed B.A in first class in Mathematics, and then during post-graduation left the course and joined the LLB course to pursue his interests. After graduation, he had started teaching Mathematics in a private school, but due to ideological differences with his colleagues left the school and went on to become a journalist.

Idea-

Before the entry of Tilak in public life, most educational institutions in the country were run by the Government.

He and his associates held the view that the education imparted through government schools and colleges encouraged amongst the students a tendency to imitate the westerners in all aspects of life. He desired the new generation of students to cultivate the qualities of self-respect, hard work, the sincerity of purpose, and above all the willingness to sacrifice the comforts of family life and worldly career for the sake of the motherland.

So, Tilak with Gopal Ganesh Agarkar and few more friends started a New English Secondary School to provide better education to the Indian Youth. The setup a Deccan Education Society in Pune, and on seeing the success, they built famous Fergusson College, in Pune.

Tilak was a socialist conservative. He gave massive importance for a person's cultural identity and how one must preserve and follow the rituals without any foreign intervention.

He states "Religion and practical life are not different. The real spirit is to make the country your family instead of working only for your own. The step beyond is to serve humanity and the next step is to serve God."

The Idea of Nationalism-

"Country first, Religion second and then, Government"- His idea of Nationalism had a revivalistic orientation. According to him, it has various dimensions, and one can demonstrate it on different levels associated with geography, language, religion, etc. He did not consider it as an entity but a sentiment, an idea, where historical memories stand relevant.

To attain these sentiments on ground, in Maharashtra, Tilak gathered people on special occasions of Chatrapati Shivaji Jayanti and Ganesh Chaturthi. These congregations and unity shocked the British powers, then ruling.

On Economic Independence-

Tilak realized the British had vested interests in India just for the sake of their economic revival. The raw material was sucked out of India at a very cheap cost and their products were sold on the same land with a huge marginal difference.

To address the issue, he gathered people and convinced them to give up Britsh goods, and buy Swadeshi products. He called for a Boycott British Goods movement. He believed India must be self-reliant to drive these powers out of the country.

Aint' we Indians witnessing and trying to follow the same route these days:)!

The idea of Swarajya-

As it has been mentioned earlier, tilak had excelled in Sanskrit literature and mathematics and adopted the word "Sawarjya" from the Vedas.

Tilak's concept of swaraj had different foundations like political, moral, spiritual, nationalistic, and realistic. An in-depth analysis of his perception and role-performance to achieve swaraj would drive anyone to conclude that by Swaraj in his heart of hearts, he meant independence from foreign rule.

His slogan 'Swaraj is my birthright' still echoes and inspires every Indian.

Defining Swaraj "as the right of the people to conduct the administration of the country according to what they consider to be their good"; He very well realized that the administrative weaknesses, the political injustice, and the economic exploitation from which India suffered could be remedied not by an appeal to the good sense of the British People but only by making the Indian administration responsive to Indian public opinion. He, therefore, placed before his countrymen the objective of Swaraj.

The views and thoughts of Lokamanya Tilak stand relevant even today. The ideas which the man lived with, and preached, paved a path for India's Independence. Lokamnya Tilak lived a very simple life. He could have been a person with a lavish British government job but he chose not to. Tilak's idea of Independence plays a pivotal role in Indian Independence history as it inspired many young leaders such as Savarkar etc. to fight and fulfill his idea of Self-governance and complete Independence.

Today as we mark the 100th death anniversary of this great son of India, still, we are yet to achieve, completely, what he had envisioned for India. Let's work in harmony and within our consciousness, to realize the dream of Self-Reliant India proposed by Tilak. Jai Hind!!

That's it from my side.Hope you guys are Safe!!

Tune in to the blog to catch my next article which will be on the Ramjanmabhoomi which will be published on the auspicious occasion of Bhumi-Pujan, on August 5.

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