BAL GANGADHAR TILAK 1.EDUCATION : Joined the Deccan Education Society set up by M.G. Ranade. Helped set up Fergusson College at Poona. Founded the Poona New English School. 2.ORATOR : An orator par excellence who gave the battlecry “Swaraj is my birthright and I shall have it”. This became the guiding beacon of the Aggressive nationalists. He was given the title ‘Lokmanya’ meaning respected by the people.

3.WRITER AND EDITOR : Excellent command over Sanskrit, Philosophy, Vedas, Mathematics, History. Scathingly criticised British misrule in his dailies ‘Maratha’ in English and ‘Kesari’ in Marathi, demanded political rights and advocated direct action to attain his goal. Wrote books like ‘ Gita Rahasya ’, ‘ Orion ’ and ‘ Arctic Home in the Vedas ’. For his fiery articles and editorials he was slapped with charges of sedition and titled ‘Father of Indian Unrest’, ‘Father of Radical Nationalism’, ‘Father of Revolutionary Nationalism in India’, ‘ Father of Revolutionary Thought’.

4. PUBLIC AWARENESS : Began celebrating Ganapati festivals in 1893, Shivaji festival in 1895 and also Akharas, Lathi clubs to infuse nationalism and patriotic fervour in the masses. People drew inspiration and courage from them. In Maharashtra famine in 1897 he set up relief camp and no rent campaign. 5. HOME RULE MOVEMENT AND LUCKNOW PACT He led the Home Rule Movement from the front in Maharashtra demanding India be ruled over by Indians. He was also instrumental in signing of the Lucknow Pact in 1916 which saw the homecoming of the Muslims and the Aggressives into the Congress fold.

6. ANTI PARTITION MOVEMENT Began the anti partition movement against the partition of Bengal and to counter it spread the message of Swaraj. 7. FORERUNNER OF GANDHI Though Gokhale was the political guru of Gandhi it was Tilak whose actions of Swadeshi, Swaraj, Boycott were replicated by Gandhiji later on.For this he was known as the forerunner of Gandhi.

8. POLITICAL BELIEF / METHOD / PHILOSOPHY IDEOLOGY First generation born radical to the core who switched from ‘pleader to demander’, agitated and demanded political rights through direct action. He opined that political rights and freedom would be won by vigorous political action, continuous struggle, self reliance, self sacrifice, suffering, hardship. He had a very strong viewpoint that as British had occupied India by force they would be made to leave by force. Force should be countered with force.

9. NO HOLDS BARRED APPROACH IN WORDS AND DEEDS Tilak talked of complete independence as early as 1897 with calling for no rent campaign, swadeshi, swaraj, boycott and prohibition. He even tried to change his position by ‘Responsive Cooperation’ telling the people to cooperate with the British during World War I. As British did not reciprocate the gesture, he was disheartened and began the Home Rule League. He was not satisfied with the government of India Act 1919.