The Firebrand of Freedom

“Swaraj is my birthright and I shall have it”— ‘Lokmanya’ Tilak

Born on July 23, 1856, in Konkan’s Ratnagiri, Maharashtra (then Bombay Presidency), Bal Gangadhar Tilak, popularly known as ‘Lokmanya’ Tilak, became one of the earliest and fiercest proponents of Swaraj (self-rule). A Sanskrit scholar, teacher, journalist, and above all, a nationalist firebrand, Tilak’s impact on India’s freedom struggle was monumental.

After completing his education in mathematics, Sanskrit, and law from Pune and Bombay, Tilak began his career humbly as a teacher. However, academia soon became the launching ground for his political journey. In 1884, he co-founded the Deccan Education Society to promote modern, nationalistic education — his first institutional step towards nation-building.

Tilak joined the Indian National Congress in 1890 but soon became disillusioned with its moderate approach. He emerged as the face of the ‘extremist’ faction, advocating for immediate self-rule through ‘revolutionary’ methods, unlike the more gradualist approach of Gopal Krishna Gokhale. Alongside Lala Lajpat Rai and Bipin Chandra Pal, he formed the famous “Lal-Bal-Pal” trio, which reshaped the political discourse of the freedom movement forever.

A pioneer in political journalism, Tilak founded Kesari (Marathi) and The Mahratta (English), he considered newspapers as a strong means to present his voice and used them to fiercely criticise British rule and rally public support.

Tilak mastered the use of ‘religious revivalism’ to connect the masses with the nationalist cause. He popularised public celebrations of Ganesh Utsav (1883) and Shivaji Jayanti (1886), which broke caste barriers and brought communities together in open political spaces. His portrayal of Chhatrapati Shivaji as a symbol of resistance against foreign rule helped ignite a cultural pride. Soon after, Tilak launched the Indian Home Rule League, pushing again for self-government within the British realm.

A strong supporter of the Swadeshi Movement (1905), Tilak called for economic self-reliance and indigenous industry. Between 1906 and 1908, he actively participated in working-class strikes. A major breakthrough appeared with his arrest for sedition in 1908, it soon sparked a massive protest in Bombay, with over 100,000 mill workers striking in solidarity, paralysing the city and uniting Hindus and Muslims in resistance.

He also advocated Hindu-Muslim unity, and it was on his suggestion that the Congress supported the Khilafat Movement in 1918, a rare gesture of communal solidarity.

Lokmanya Tilak was not just a leader but a movement in himself. Through words, will, and wisdom, he set the nation ablaze with the call for Swaraj, a call that lit the path for India’s long and determined march to freedom.

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