Introduction to Tilak’s life:
Bal Gangadhar Tilak was an extremist in the Indian National Movement. He was born in Ratnagiri village of Konkan district in Maharashtra on 25th July 1856. He made the goal of his political thinking ‘Swarajya for India’. He gave the slogan,“Swarajya is my birth right and I shall have it.” Bal Gangadhar Tilak gave swarajya a new target. He published the newspapers ‘Kesari’ and ‘Maratha’ and was known by the name of Sage Bhagirath’ of Indian nationalism.
His contribution to Indian national movement is matchless. He raised the Indian nationalism on the pedestal of Indian cultural pride. For this, he started Ganesh festival and Shivaji festival He gave the people the means like ‘Swadeshi, boycott’, ‘national education’ and ‘non – violent resistance the goal of Swaraj’. Tilak was the first most influential and popular leader of modern India. He brought about qualitative changes in Indian National Congress.
Evaluation of Tilak’s thoughts:
1. Father of the extremist era in national movement:
Tilak started a new era of extremist thought in the national movement. He favoured realistic and practicable viewpoint in Indian politics. So, he is called modern Kautilya.
2. Brought an awakening among – st Indians regarding their rights:
Tilak told the Indians that ‘Swaraj’ is their ‘birthright’ and he made them conscious of their rights. He infused a new energy among – st Indians and presented before them a new and great goal.
3. Propounded modern nationalism:
Like Swami Dayanand, Tilak took inspiration from ancient Vedic philosophy and propounded modern nationalism based on purely Indian culture. So, Nehru called him the Father of Indian nationalism. He started a new era regarding the use of political means.
4. Brought Qualitative Change in the Character of Congress:
Tilak brought in qualitative change in the character of the Indian National Congress. He transformed a British patriotic institution into an institution resisting the unjust rule of the British Government. He achieved this success through spiritual thoughts and deeds. Gandhiji took the tradition of Indian national movement to its goal – the tradition which Tilak had started. He was the first most influential and popular leader of modern India.
5. Similar feelings towards all the communities:
Tilak’s critics brought a charge of encouraging Hinduism in Indian politics keeping in view the launching of ‘Ganesh festival’ and ‘Shivaji festival’. But he never showed hatred against any community or ‘Panth’. He started the festivals to organize the disorganized and scattered people of India and he got the expected results.
6. Did not take the help of violence to attain ‘Swaraj’:
Inspite of being hot minded, Tilak never took the help of violence to attain ‘Swaraj’. He was a great leader.
7. He was a great man of action (Mahakarmyogi):
Tilak was a great ‘man of action’ who struggled for ‘Swaraj’ up to the last breath of his life. Though the British government kept him in jail to destroy him, yet he went on marching towards his goal with double fervour and energy.
