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Article deals with Lokmanya Tilak who was one of prominent leader among the leaders of the pre-Gandhi era of freedom movement because of his bravery, devotion, and sacrifice, as well as his pivotal involvement in the early stages of the independence fight.

His mother’s name was Paravti Bai Gangadhar. His father’s name was Gangadhar Shastri who was a noted Sanskrit scholar and school teacher at Ratnagiri.

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Lokmanya Tilak Jayanti 2025

India will celebrate the 169th Birth Anniversary of Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak on 23 July 2025. This day marks the birth anniversary of Bal Gangadhar Tilak, a prominent leader in the Indian independence movement.

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Who was Lokmanya Tilak?

Lokmanya Tilak, whose real name was Bal Gangadhar Tilak, was a prominent Indian nationalist, freedom fighter, social reformer, and political leader during the Indian freedom movement. He was a nationalist, social reformer, teacher, and philosopher. He first made a strong demand for self rule, and due to his deep connection with the public it got popularized. He was given the title of “Leader recognized by the people.”

• Date:  celebrated every year on 23 July.
• Birth Year: 23 July 1856, Ratnagiri, Maharashtra
• Objective: Remembering Tilak’s contribution to education, nationalism, and cultural renaissance
• Program: Speech, Essay Competition, Cultural Program, Wreath-laying ceremony
• Significance: Reminds us of India’s freedom struggle and inspires patriotism
• Tilak was a brilliant student with a straightforward nature and an intolerant attitude towards injustice.
• He graduated from Deccan College, Pune in 1877 in Sanskrit and Mathematics.
• He studied L.L.B. at the Government Law College, Bombay, and received his law degree in 1879.
• After teaching English and Mathematics at a private school in Poona, he quit and helped found a school emphasizing nationalism in 1880.
• Tilak criticized the British educational system, arguing it was inadequate for Indian students and disrespected their cultural heritage.
• He founded the Deccan Educational Society to inspire nationalist education among Indian students.

Political Journey of Lokmanya Tilak within the Congress

• He became a member of  INC in 1890, and gained prominence for his assertive views on nationalism.
• He opposed moderate leadership as they were favoring petitions and gradual reforms under British rule.
• He advocated for Swaraj and demanded self-rule as a fundamental right for Indians.
• He led the trio “Lal-Bal-Pal” and represented the assertive wing within Congress.
• He promoted mass participation in the freedom struggle, moving the movement beyond elite circles.
• He also actively promoted boycott of British goods and use of indigenous products during the Swadeshi movement.
• Contributed to Surat Split (1907) due to ideological rift between moderates and extremists.
• He left a legacy for later revolutionary and mass-based movements in India’s independence struggle.

Also Read: Freedom fighters of india

Role of Bal Gangadhar Tilak in the freedom struggle

• Tilak, along with other leaders like Lala Lajpat Rai and Bipin Chandra Pal, was a key figure in the early 1900s revolutionary nationalism.
• He advocated for Swadeshi, boycott of British goods, national education, and Swarajya (self-rule).
• His criticism of British mishandling during the bubonic plague in Pune (1896) led to public resistance.
• His first imprisonment was due to the assassination of British officials by the Chapekar brothers.
• After his release, he became a major force behind the Swadeshi Movement (1905–07), opposing Lord Curzon’s Partition of Bengal and urging economic self-reliance.
• Lokmanya Tilak co-founded the Home Rule League in 1916, leading the movement for Indian autonomy.
• Lokmanya Tilak built ties with different British politicians during a visit to Britain in 1918.

Early life and Education of Lokmanya Tilak

Know about the educational status of Lokmanya Tilak

• Full name: Keshav Gangadhar Tilak
• Place of Birth: Ratnagiri, Maharashtra
• Date of Birth: 23 Jul 1856
• Education: Graduated in Mathematics and Law from Bombay University
• Profession: Lawyer, teacher, and journalist. 
• Death: August 1, 1920, in Mumbai

Lokmanya Tilak displayed sharp intellect and moral values ​​right from his childhood. His thoughts, rooted in Indian culture and spirituality, made him a strong nationalist.

Political and Social Stance of Lokmanya Tilak

• Lokmanya Tilak Faced sedition charges in 1897 and 1908 for inciting public unrest.
• He was convicted again in 1916 for pro-self-rule speeches.
• Lokmanya Tilak reconciliation with Congress moderates post-release, focusing on constitutional change.
• Lokmanya Tilak holds conservative views, opposing the Age of Consent Bill, inter-caste marriages, women’s education initiatives, and untouchability.
• Lokmanya Tilak refused to sign a 1918 petition for untouchability abolition, believing such reforms should not be government-mandated.

The Contribution of Lokmanya Tilak to the Freedom Struggle

Tilak transformed the freedom movement into a mass-based movement. He was in favor of strong and direct action.

• Lal-Bal-Pal Trilogy: Prominent member of the Confederation and supporter of militant nationalism
• Supporters of the Boycott and Swadeshi Movement 
• The Home Rule Movement of 1916 started together with Annie Besant
• Famous Slogans of Lokmanya Tilak: “Swaraj is my birthright, and I shall have it.”—This slogan became a source of inspiration for the whole country.

Also Read: Mahatma Gandhi

Which two festivals were started by Lokmanya Tilak?

Here are the festivals started by Lokmanya Tilak:

These festivals created unity by erasing religious and ethnic differences and aroused public consciousness against British rule.

Literary Works of Lokmanya Tilak

Tilak was not only a brilliant speaker but also a writer with revolutionary ideas. His writings shook people and challenged British ideology:

Lokmanya Tilak Contribution to politics and organization

Various contributions of Lokmanya Tilak are given below:

• Indian National Congress: Prominent leader of the extremist faction
• Deccan Education Society (1884): Spread of modern and patriotic education
• Home Rule League (1916): Building public support for the demand for self-rule

Through these efforts, Tilak awakened political consciousness among the people and laid the foundation for future mass movements.

Lokmanya Tilak Imprisonment and final years

Here is information related to Lokmanya Tilak final years:

• In 1908, he was sent to Mandalay Prison (Burma) on charges for 6 years.
• After release, he became active in politics again and strengthened the Home Rule League. 
• He died on August 1, 1920 

Legacy of Lokmanya Tilak

Lokmanya Tilak contribution can be seen as

Conclusion

Lokmanya Tilak was not only a political leader but also a philosopher, teacher, and pioneer of cultural revival. He made festivals a medium of nationalism and made the public aware through education and journalism. His immortal sentence—“Swaraj is my birthright, and I shall have it”—even today, he is an inspiration to crores of Indians.

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