2017-08-01 Tue

Bal Gangadhar Tilak was called the Father of Indian Unrest by Valentine Chirol; he was the first to demand complete ‘Swarajya'.

Over a quarter of a century, Lokmanya Tilak was an ideal for the masses and a dire force for his opponents. Tilak was from the first generation of Indians who completed their graduation. His persona reflected through his strongest advocate for self-rule (Swaraj) and for his famous quote "Swaraj is my birth right and I shall have it".

The speech of this common man galvanized the nation from its slumber. He was the most outstanding among the pioneers of India's freedom struggle. He revolutionised the field of politics and journalism through his paper Kesari and Mahratta.

His masters in the art of controversy and training in hardy school made him the focal point of the national resistance which bought him in the special attention of British government. Author Surendranath Banerjee in his book ‘India's man of Sorrows' defines Lokmanya Tilak perception.

His research in the Vedas gave him respect and popularity among the great scholars like Max Muller and Weber, who carried a campaign for his release from jail. He wrote on his magnificent creation Gita-Rahasya in the jail.

Nearly 97 years ago seemly today on 1 August 1920, Lokmanya Tilak died. To respect and celebrate this 150th Anniversary India Post has issued a definitive stamp in 2016.

His whole life he dedicated to the welfare of the nation and society, he was the maker of modern India, Swaraj was his gospel and no one can teach its consistency and insistence better than him.

India Post has also issued few othercommemorative stamps take a look at them.

Mintage world has also created a video on the life of Bal Gangadhar Tilak.

To know more about Lokmanya Tilak click here.

Some interesting facts

During the time of Home Rule Movement Lokmanya Tilak gave the quote ‘Sawaraj is my birth right and I shall have it'.
Tilak published two books on his research in Veda called Orion and Arctic Home of the Vedas.