Tribute to Lokamanya Tilak on his birth Anniversary.
Lokmanya Tilak aka Bal Gangadhar Tilak was born on 23 July 1856 at Ratnagiri.
He started to celebrate Ganesh chaturthi and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj festival as a large public event where many cultural and national issues were discussed.
He was part of the Deccan Education Society to bring better education amongst Indian Youths.
He inspired generations of Youths into nationalism like Chapekar Brothers, Veer Savarkar, BS Moonje and many.
He along with Bipin Chandra Pal and Lala Lajpat Rai known as Lal-Bal-Pal Triumvirate did lot during Swadeshi Movement.
Here the real Lokmanya Tilak ji was a man of paradox according to some. While a man of great wisdom and a practical person also an Assertive Sanatani who wants the Dharmic values to exist along with the internal self reform.
His influence was so strong that after his arrest in 1908 the unrest followed that even in Madras presidency. Thus he was named as father of unrest in India and also the British called him the Empire’s biggest enemy.
He criticized princely states for their collaboration with the British but considered them as the extension of Governance thus when Diwan meddled with Internal affairs of Kolhapur. His Article published in Kesari on Diwan led him and his friend turned belligerent social reformer Gopal Ganesh Agarkar both of them ended up in Jail for the first time in 1882. He infact supported establishment of Shivaji club named after Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj within princely states of Deccan.
His career as journalist where he exposed the corruption of British officer Crawford and his troubles to Mamlatdars.
His criticism on Reformers were highlighted as him being ultraconservative.
For him reforms should be gradual. He started Deccan Education Society and New English School to teach the kids. Even when difference of opinion with his friend Gopal Ganesh Agarkar and other members came he left the society.
When he was jailed on Sedition Charge on Chepekar Brothers case. It was advocate S Srinivasa Iyengar Setlur who took his case to public, led to improvement in the prison condition for him.
His opposition to Rukmabai Raut case and age of Consent bill was still a point of contention. His point being Hindus are capable of internal reforms and reforms should come from within also with Consensus not arbitrary implementation.
His rivalry with Chhatrapati shahu Maharaj of Kolhapur started with the Vedokta issue where Tilak ji supported pandits. This led to a tuzzle that spilled to Tai Maharaj case which later Lokamanya Tilak ji won. Even then during the last days of Tilak ji when Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj heard about his deteriorating health condition He felt bad that was the respect he had in spite of their differences.
During Swadeshi movement after partition of Bengal his call for Boycott of Foreign goods got Traction and led to people burning foreign goods. He established Paisa fund to train Indians into modern textile manufacturing.
He spoke for labour rights thus when he was sentenced to six years of imprisonment in 1908. The labour uprising in Mumbai then Bombay mills happened which in fact Lenin of Russia admired.
During his prison time in Mandalay he wrote Gita Rahasya the book that opens the world of Bhagvad Gita through different yogas.
When he visited Kolkata, Rabindranath Tagore penned a poem on Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Thus bridging the linguistic divides. VO Chidambaram pillai, Subramanya Bharathi and Subramanya Siva the Triumvarite of the freedom movement in Madras presidency were ardent Tilakites. He wrote an article against the expulsion of Veer Savarkar ji from Fergusson college hostel. He had many discussions with BS Moonje too.
After his release from prison when he went to sign Lucknow pact it was Youngsters of Lucknow including Ram Prasad Bismil ji took his carriage in hand as a token of their respect.
During the Home rule league it got enough support that led to the “government of India act” also a general amnesty was issued to all political prisoners in Kalapani and other prisons.
After his demise his last rites were performed in Padmasana posture a rare honour for a great leader.
-Tribute by Srikaanth Sridhar.
Srikaanth Sridhar
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