Bal Gangadhar Tilak
Bal Gangadhar Tilak was a freedom fighter of India. He was born on 23rd, July, 1856 at Ratnagiri. He was from a royal family, but his father was a school teacher.
He did his schooling from Poona High School and then joined the Deccan College. He completed a degree in law in 1879.
He believed that only education could help the people of India to get freedom from foreign rule. To fulfill his aim, he started the New English School with his friends at Pune.
He was one of the prime architects of modern India and heralded Asian nationalism. His philosophy could not survive after his death as India came under sway of Mahatma Gandhi.
Tilak joined the other freedom fighters in their struggle for independence. He believed that the British had to be paid back in their own coin by fighting back.
In 1881, Tilak started two magazines, `Kesari’ in Marathi and ‘Maratha’ in English. In 1885, he established the Deccan Education Society.
Tilak gave the famous slogan, “Swaraj is my birthright, and I shall have it.” In 1905, Tilak was arrested and sent to Mandalay Jail for six years.
He started the Home Rule Movement. Tilak is known as the Father of Indian Nationalism. He died on 1st May, 1920.
