Every educated Indian knows about Lokmanya Tilak. However, very few know about the real greatness, uniqueness and versatility of this multi-faceted son of India. The First of August, 2021 is the 101st anniversary of his death. It will be really inspiring to know about the amazing range of his activities and achievements.
He was born in a very small village in Ratnagiri district. His father was a school teacher. His real name was Keshav but he was popularly known as ‘Bal’. He was one of the well-known trio of Indian patriots called ‘Lal’ (Lala Lajpatrai), ‘Bal’ (Bal Gangadhar Tilak), and ‘Pal’ (Bipin Chandra Pal).
Most leaders of those times did their graduation in literature, political science, history, economics, law, etc. But Lokmanya was a scholar in Mathematics and Astronomy. His brain was like that of a scientist. Once he was asked, ‘Which portfolio would you prefer after India becomes independent?’ He said, ‘It is because of the inaction of people like you that I had to enter politics. After Independence, I would like to be a Professor in Mathematics.’ He wrote two scholastic treatises on Astronomy – ‘The Arctic Home of Vedas’ and the ‘Orion’. He started a ‘panchaang’ (calendar) based on his knowledge of astronomy. His ‘Tilak Panchaang’ is still in vogue. Interestingly, after matriculation and before entering college, he devoted one full year to acquire physical strength. Perhaps he could anticipate the strenuous struggles he would face in his future life.
- He established the New English School and Fergusson College. He was a great educationist and his basic aim was national education.
- He started two dailies, ‘Kesari’ in Marathi and ‘Marhatta’ in English. He is still respected as a great journalist. The British Government used to be afraid of his editorials.
- For almost 20 years of his life, he faced litigations and court proceedings and spent about ten years in jail as a freedom fighter.
His knowledge of the law was amazing. He had done his LL.B. and for a livelihood used to give tuitions in law to students from different states. He inculcated the spirit of patriotism among them. He lost just one case against him in the High Court. He was then sent to Mandalay Jail (kala paani). There, without any reference books, he raised certain points of law and of Hindu traditions (regarding adoption) and he was acquitted by the Privy Council.
His knowledge of philosophy was acclaimed by most world scholars when he wrote ‘Geetarahasya’ (in English) despite the hard and strenuous life of Mandalay. For that, he studied about 400 books from different languages. He also learnt four languages for this purpose.
He was a visionary. He realised the importance of cinema as a powerful medium and supported Dadasaheb Phalke, the first film-maker of India. He encouraged his work through his newspapers and raised funds for him.
He advocated many social reforms. For public education, social reforms and bringing the people together, he started the ‘Ganeshotsav’ and ‘Shivjayanti Utsav’. An anti-alcohol movement was also started by him and he even demanded a prohibition law. This seriously affected the revenue collection of the Government.
He was also an entrepreneur. Hardly anyone knows that he set up his own ginning factory at Latur and a sawmill at Ratnagiri; he also supported the glass factory at Pune. He had a deep sense of commerce and economics. He was one of the promoters of the first Indian joint stock company ‘Bombay Swadeshi Co-operative Stores’, a listed company.
His sacrifice for the freedom of India was unparalleled and he was known as the father of Indian unrest (against British rule).
These are only a few highlights of his life. That was why he was loved and revered by one and all – a real ‘Lokmanya’.
Doesn’t he deserve our humble ‘Namaskaar’?
