Bal Gangadhar Tilak gave a lot of importance to education as the basic means for the uplift of the nation. He accepted education as the basic means for attainment of his political swaraj. He founded New English School, South Educational Society and Fergusson College.
Later on, during the swadeshi movement, he opened many samarth schools in the name of Samarth Guru Ramdas. He wanted to educate the youth of the country in such a way which may infuse in them a zeal for attaining swaraj. He favored the use of native language as a medium of education. Students from the national schools took active part in the national movement and awakened the feeling of nationalism among the masses.
