Political means adopted by Bal Gangadhar Tilak to resist the tyranny of the British government:
Bal Gangadhar Tilak framed his political policy and programmes according to the demands of the suppressive and exploitative policies of the British government. Tilak framed his political policy and programmes to resist the tyranny of the British government and to attain ‘Swaraj’ and did not hesitate to adopt the open political means which are also called aggressive means and ‘hot minded means’ as follows:
(1) Swadeshi:
Bal Gangadhar Tilak made Swadeshi the symbol of patriotism. Explaining its political importance he says, “This alone is such an effective means which can free us from British slavery. To Tilak, the idea of Swadeshi was not limited to the economic independence of India. He regarded it as a means of spiritual elevation and the basis of attaining political Swaraj”.
His Swadeshi movement became the movement of revitalizing the entire national life. Explaining the political significance of Swaraj, Tilak said, “If we do not want to remain in the slavery of the British, we will have to carry forward this movement with full force. This alone is such an effective means which can free us from slavery.”
(2) Boycott:
Bal Gangadhar Tilak favoured boycott at the Benaras session of Indian National Congress in 1905. In spite of the opposition of the liberals, the Congress put economic pressure on the British Government to withdraw the bill of the partition of Bengal known as ‘Bang ‘Bhang.’ Tilak,’ through this resolution, inspired Indians to boycott British goods. To Tilak, boycott was such a means through which the unarmed Indians, without any violent deed, could get rid of British rule.
(3) Non – violent Resistance:
Bal Gangadhar Tilak considered non – violent resistance as the most effective means to attain ‘Swaraj’. His philosophy of non – violent resistance was based on the idea that to resist an unjust law was the spiritual duty of everybody. He considered the policy of non – violent resistance basically constitutional. According to him, this policy was in accordance with law, justice, morality and public consent. There was no room for violence in Tilak’s policy of non – violent resistance.
(4) National education:
Tilak gave a lot of importance to education in the elevation of a nation. He considered education as the bedrock of ‘Swaraj’. He founded and established New English School, South Educational Society and Fergusson College. Later, on, during the Swaraj movement, he opened many Samarth schools in the name of Samarth Guru Ramdas. He wanted to educate Indian youths in such a way, so that a desire for establishing ‘Swaraj’ should spring from their hearts.
