Essay on Bal Gangadhar Tilak: Bal Gangadhar Tilak, also known as Lokmanya Tilak, was a freedom fighter and educationist who lived and worked when India was under the tyrannical rule of the British. He was one of the most influential people in the freedom movement and struggled relentlessly to free India. His famous slogan “Swaraj is my birthright and I shall have it” invoked a nationalist feeling in many Indians who joined him in his fight against the British. He supported education by forming educational societies and establishing colleges at a time when only a handful of Indians were literate.
Due to his towering personality and unmatched contribution to the freedom struggle, students are often required to write an essay on Bal Gangadhar Tilak. Thus, we bring to you an Essay on Bal Gangadhar Tilak 500 words and Essay on Bal Gangadhar Tilak 10 lines.
Essay on Bal Gangadhar Tilak 500 Words
An Essay on Bal Gangadhar Tilak 500 Words is as follows
When India was under the oppressive rule of the British, a visionary and courageous leader bravely fought against their tyrannies. Bal Gangadhar Tilak, also known as Lokmanya Tilak, was a freedom fighter living in today’s Maharashtra. He was accepted by the people as their leader, hence receiving the title of “Lokmanya”. He was a radical in his political outlook, fearless in his approach and had immense love for his country. He made an effort to do what was best for the people and the country with his unyielding willpower, great organizational skills, and, most importantly, faith in himself and his principles.
Lokmanya Tilak lead many protests and strikes against the injustices committed by the authorities under British rule so much so that they considered him “the Father of Indian Unrest”. He had an indomitable will to drive out the British from India and establish Home Rule here. He disliked the British for killing Indians, ripping their culture apart, looting their wealth and subjugating them politically. However, he was extremely benevolent towards his fellow countrymen.
He devoted his life to national awakening and selfless activities. He launched two newspapers – Maratha (English) and Kesari (Marathi) to inform the public about the unjust policies of the British. He was also a philanthropist and established many educational societies, such as the Deccan Educational Society and colleges, such as the Fergusson College. Being himself well-educated, he firmly believed in modern education and the need for taking it to the masses. Though he supported the promulgation of western education, he never abandoned Indian culture and heritage. In fact, he was a mixture of modern and traditional education. He was well-versed in Sanskrit but also loved reading western philosophies
Though he was a devout Hindu, he was a staunch believer in Hindu-Muslim Unity. He encouraged his countrymen to stop distinguishing on the basis of Caste, Creed, Religion, Ethnicity or Race. He, in fact, used spiritualism and religious festivals, such as Shivaji Jayanti and Ganesh Puja, to organise unrest against the British. He wrote extensively on the importance of spiritualism in his books Gita Rahasya and The Arctic Home of the Vedas. He also considered his life to be a Karma Yajna.
His contribution to the Indian Freedom Struggle was unmatched. He was the first significant person to bring nationalist feelings from the educated elite to the masses, who were the main sufferers of British Rule. He was a relentless supporter of Swaraj, for which he gave a slogan “Swaraj is my birthright and I shall have it”. His numerous protests, strikes and newspaper articles criticising the British were not welcomed by the London-based government. As a result, he was arrested many times.
Bal Gangadhar Tilak was a pioneer of India’s struggle for Independence. His thinking was way ahead of its time, which made him a reformer. His ideals of nationalism, secularism, fraternity, and equality have inspired many people. Though Tilak dies in 1920, his vision and ideas still live today.
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Essay on Bal Gangadhar Tilak 10 lines
The following are 10 lines that will help you in writing an Essay on Bal Gangadhar Tilak.
- Bal Gangadhar Tilak was an influential freedom fighter. He was also known as Lokmanya Tilak and the Father of Indian Unrest.
- He was born in the year 1856 in Ratnagiri city, Maharashtra. His father was a Sanskrit Scholar. He inherited his scholarly interests, fearless attitude and strong nationalist spirit from his father.
- He was a staunch nationalist who is credited for bringing the nationalist ethos from the educated elite to the illiterate and poor masses. He organised numerous protests, strikes, and gheraos against the Britishers for their unjust policies.
- He was politically radical and didn’t believe that writing letters or talking and demanding freedom would be of any use. Instead, he believed only in direct action.
- Bal Gangadhar Tilak, being himself highly educated, knew and understood the importance of Education and the need to educate the masses. As a result, he established New English School, the Deccan Educational Society and the Fergusson College to contribute to educating India.
- Bal Gangadhar Tilak was a staunch nationalist. He also understood the importance of spreading the nationalist idea in order to nationally awaken the Indian people. Thus, he launched two newspapers named Maratha (English) and Kesari (Marathi).
- Though he was a devout Hindu, he never held anything against any other religion. in fact, he was a staunch believer in Hindu-Muslim unity which he considered imperative in driving out the British from India and for the stability of future independent India. He also opposed untouchability.
- He was called the “Maker of Modern India” by Mahatma Gandhi and was addressed as Lokmanya for being accepted by the people as their leader.
- He joined Indian National Congress in 1890 and remained associated with it until his death. It was under his leadership when the Surat Split took place in 1907. Lala Lajpat Rai, Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Bipin Chandra Pal form the Lal-Bal-Pal triumvirate that was considered radical in approach.
- Bal Gangadhar Tilak formed many organisations such as the All India Home Rule League to help India attain Home Rule.
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