Born on the 23rd of July, in the year 1856, Keshav Gangadhar Tilak, popularly known as Bal Gangadhar Tilak, was an eminent journalist, teacher who made a significant impact in the political structure of India by being an influential nationalist who also happened to be the first leader in the country’s independence movement.
For his contribution to the society, he was rewarded with the title of “Lokmanya” which means “being accepted by the people as their well deserved leader.” A lawyer by profession, he went on to make a number of social reforms, for which the British Colonial government termed him as the “Father of the Indian Unrest.”
Born and raised in the Indian state of Maharashtra, Tilak strongly believed in the concept of Swaraj—which refers to self rule, and endorsed the thought that it was every Indian’s birthright to have swaraj.
He was an active leader who opposed the partition of Bengal, and while it still happened, he promoted the Boycott Movement which involved boycotting every foreign goods and using the ones made in India only. He would often pen down his nationalistic experiences in both Marathi and English publications—i.e. the Kesari and the Maratha respectively.
He passed away on the 1st of August in the year 1920.