India remembers 'Lokmanya' Bal Gangadhar Tilak on 98th death anniversary

Bal Gangadhar Tilak was the first leader of the Indian Independence Movement and led to the rise of Indian nationalism.

Today is the 98th death anniversary of Bal Gangadhar Tilak, the father of the Indian independence movement, who sought the demand for self-rule and the strong ideology of Congress, was born on July 23, 1856, in Chikal village taluka of Ratnagiri district.

His father's name was Gangadhar Ramchandra Pant and mother's name was Parvati Bai Gangadhar. It is said that his mother Parvati Bai had worshiped the Sun by having a venerated vow in Ashwin month (month of Hindi calendar) with the desire to attain a son, after which Tilak was born.

At the young age of 14, he had a good hold on English and Sanskrit. His father was very surprised to see his knowledge of English, Sanskrit, Marathi and Hindi language, along with the style of writing his poems in Sanskrit.

Bal Gangadhar Tilak was the first leader of the Indian Independence Movement and led to the rise of Indian nationalism.

The Britishers called Bal Gangadhar Tilak, 'The Father of the Indian unrest,' he was also given the honorary title of 'Lokmanya', which means admired by the people.

He started the fight of self-rule when he joined the Indian National Congress (INC) in the year 1890 and, was one of the first activists who came up with the concept of 'Swaraj'In 1880.

#BalGangadharTilak was an Indian nationalist, teacher, social reformer and lawyer. He was one of the strongest advocates of #Swaraj pic.twitter.com/6qigOt7CNT

— PIB India (@PIB_India) August 1, 2018

Bombay Swadeshi Co-op Stores to promote the Swadeshi movement in India was started by him and Jamshed Ji Tata.

Bipin Chandra Pal and Lala Lajpat Rai formed a political regime which gave them popularity and they were referred as the 'Lal-Bal-Pal triumvirate'.

Tilak took a strong punch on Age of Consent Act, 1891, as he opposed and protested at every level so that the government would regulate the Act.

Future generations will remember Bal Gangadhar Tilak with reverence, as the man who lived and died for their sake, Lokamanya the 'Architect of New India'.