(1856–1920) Political
activist from Maharashtra who was once dubbed "the Father of Indian
Unrest." Tilak never wavered from his belief that the British had no
authority to govern India, unlike his Maharashtrian colleagues Ranade and
Gokhale, who emphasized working within existing institutions.
In 1890, he left Gokhale's reformist organization and
dedicated himself to educating and organizing common Maharashtrians.
Two publications, one published in English and the other in
Marathi, served as one avenue for such organization.
The second task was to plan and promote two new events.
One of these events was dedicated to Maratha ruler Shivaji,
a local hero who had spent his life resisting the Moghul empire's dominance.
The second celebration was Ganesh Chaturthi, which Tilak
advocated as a visible opportunity for Hindu nationalists to express and
celebrate their identity under British imperial rule.
Outright insurrection was unthinkable given British
authority, and the British government severely banned all kinds of political
protest.
Because the British had a long-standing policy of not
interfering with religious observances, the Ganesh celebration offered a method
to get around these prohibitions.
Tilak was imprisoned on multiple occasions on charges of
instigating political assassinations, yet he always returned to politics.
Apart from his political engagement, his most important
intellectual contribution is a commentary on the Bhagavad Gita, a religious
scripture, in which he emphasizes the necessity for this-worldly action,
including violence if necessary, to overcome evil.
