Bal Gangadhar Tilak (July 23, 1856 – August 1, 1920), also known as Lokmanya (beloved by the people), was an Indian nationalist, scholar, teacher, journalist, and independence activist.
Born in Ratnagiri, Maharashtra, to a Chitpavan Brahmin family, he was a key figure in the early Indian National Congress, advocating for Swaraj (self-rule) and cultural revival through festivals like Ganesh Chaturthi.
Yearwise Biography
- 1856: Born on July 23 in Ratnagiri, Bombay Presidency (now Maharashtra), to Gangadhar Tilak (school teacher and Sanskrit scholar) and Sitabai Tilak, the youngest of three children in a Chitpavan Brahmin family. His ancestral village was Chikhali.
- 1871: At age 15, married Tapibai (later Satyabhamabai) on November 11; father Gangadhar died shortly after, leaving the family in financial hardship.
- 1877: Graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics from Deccan College, Pune, topping his class.
- 1879: Earned an L.L.B. from Government Law College, Mumbai; began practicing law but focused more on education and journalism.
- 1880: Co-founded the New English School in Pune with Gopal Ganesh Agarkar, Vishnushastri Chiplunkar, and Mahadev Ballal Namjoshi to promote national education.
- 1884: Established the Deccan Education Society to foster Indian-led learning; founded Fergusson College in Pune, serving as its first principal.
- 1885: Joined the Indian National Congress at its inaugural session in Bombay, initially aligning with moderates but soon advocating extremism.
- 1888: Launched the weekly newspaper Kesari (Marathi) and Mahratta (English) to propagate nationalist ideas and critique British policies.
- 1890: Attended the INC session in Calcutta; began promoting Swadeshi (use of Indian goods) and cultural nationalism.
- 1893: Revived Ganesh Chaturthi and Shivaji Jayanti festivals as tools for mass mobilization and Hindu unity.
- 1896–1897: Led famine relief efforts in Pune during the Deccan famine, criticizing British inaction in Kesari.
- 1897: Wrote inflammatory articles on the murder of British officials Walter Rand and Lt. Ayerst, leading to sedition charges; sentenced to 18 months in prison (released in 1898).
- 1905: Strongly opposed the Partition of Bengal, coining "Swaraj is my birthright"; organized Swadeshi protests.
- 1906: Founded the Home Rule League with Annie Besant and G.S. Khaparde, demanding self-government.
- 1908: Arrested again for sedition over Kesari articles; sentenced to 6 years in Mandalay Jail, Burma (released in 1914).
- 1916: Led the Lucknow Session of INC, forging the Lucknow Pact with Muslim League for Hindu-Muslim unity.
- 1918: Refused to sign a petition against untouchability, prioritizing orthodox Hindu views.
- 1920: Died on August 1 in Bombay at age 64 from a throat infection; massive funeral attended by thousands; Lokmanya Tilak Smarak Trust founded posthumously.
Family
- Parents: Gangadhar Tilak and Sitabai Tilak.
- Wife: Satyabhamabai Tilak (married 1871, died 1912).
- Children: Three sons (Vishwanath, Rambhau, Shridhar) and a daughter (Parvatibai).
Health
- Suffered from diabetes and respiratory issues in later years; death due to a throat infection exacerbated by poor health.
Wealth
- Lived modestly as a teacher and journalist; no significant personal fortune, focused on public causes.
Honors
- Titled "Lokmanya" by the public; posthumously celebrated with plaques in Pune and films like Lokmanya: Ek Yugpurush (2015); featured in Indian history curricula.