Bal Gangadhar Tilak
Nationalist leader who declared “Swaraj is my birthright”
- Lived
- 64 yrs
- 1856 – 1920
- Works listed
- 2
- Book
- Honours
- 0
- Awards & distinctions
- Profile views
- 2
- 0 followers
Bal Gangadhar Tilak was one of the first leaders of the Indian independence movement to demand complete self-rule. A journalist, teacher and scholar, he was called “Lokmanya” (“accepted by the people”) and famously declared, “Swaraj is my birthright and I shall have it.” He died in 1920.
Biography
Teacher and editor
Tilak studied mathematics in Pune and law in Bombay. In 1880 he helped found the New English School in Pune, followed by the Deccan Education Society and Fergusson College. In 1881 he co-founded the newspapers Kesari, in Marathi, and The Mahratta, in English, which became powerful voices of nationalism.
Bringing politics to the people
Tilak turned the household Ganesh festival into a public celebration in 1893 and started festivals honouring Shivaji, using them to bring people together for political ends. He was one of the leaders of the radical wing of the Congress, with Lala Lajpat Rai and Bipin Chandra Pal — the trio known as “Lal Bal Pal”.
Prison and Gita Rahasya
He was jailed for sedition several times. From 1908 to 1914 he was imprisoned in Mandalay, Burma, where he wrote Gita Rahasya, a commentary presenting the Bhagavad Gita as a call to action.
Home Rule
After his release he founded the Indian Home Rule League in 1916 and helped bring about the Lucknow Pact between the Congress and the Muslim League. He died in Bombay on 1 August 1920; Mahatma Gandhi called him “the maker of modern India”.
Timeline
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1856
Born in Ratnagiri, Bombay Presidency (now Maharashtra)
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1881
Co-founds Kesari and The Mahratta
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1884
Deccan Education Society founded
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1893
Public Ganesh festival begins
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1908
Imprisoned in Mandalay
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1915
Gita Rahasya published
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1916
Founds the Indian Home Rule League; Lucknow Pact
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1920
Dies in Bombay
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1920
Died, aged 64
Notable works
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1915
Gita Rahasya Book
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1903
The Arctic Home in the Vedas Book
Did you know?
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1
He started public Ganesh festivals as a way to unite people.
-
2
He wrote Gita Rahasya while imprisoned in Burma.
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3
Gandhi called him the maker of modern India.
Connections
Related people
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Lala Lajpat Rai
Politics & Leadership · Nationalist leader known as the “Lion of Punjab”
Fellow member of “Lal Bal Pal”
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Mahatma Gandhi
Politics & Leadership · Leader of India’s independence movement and pioneer of non-violent resistance
Successor as leader of the national movement
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Shivaji
Historical Figures · Founder of the Maratha kingdom
Started festivals in his honour
Frequently asked
Who is Bal Gangadhar Tilak?
Bal Gangadhar Tilak was one of the first leaders of the Indian independence movement to demand complete self-rule. A journalist, teacher and scholar, he was called “Lokmanya” (“accepted by the people”) and famously declared, “Swaraj is my birthright and I shall have it.” He died in 1920.
When did Bal Gangadhar Tilak die?
Bal Gangadhar Tilak died on 1 September 1920 at the age of 64.
Where is Bal Gangadhar Tilak from?
Bal Gangadhar Tilak was born in Ratnagiri, Bombay Presidency (now Maharashtra).
What is Bal Gangadhar Tilak known for?
Bal Gangadhar Tilak is best known for The slogan “Swaraj is my birthright and I shall have it”; Kesari newspaper; public Ganesh festivals; Gita Rahasya.
References
- Bal Gangadhar Tilak — Wikipedia. Wikipedia. Retrieved 27 October 2026.
- Bal Gangadhar Tilak — Britannica. Encyclopaedia Britannica. Retrieved 27 October 2026.
- Bal Gangadhar Tilak — Hindi Wikipedia. Wikipedia (Hindi). Retrieved 27 October 2026.
- Bal Gangadhar Tilak (Q312555) — structured data. Wikidata. Retrieved 27 October 2026.
Includes material from the Wikipedia article “Bal Gangadhar Tilak”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. That text is available under the same licence. Learn more
External links
Featured in
About this profile
- Researched by the TrackFame editorial team; reviewed by Sanjay Sokal under our editorial policy
- First published 27 October 2026
- Last updated
Cite this page
“Bal Gangadhar Tilak.” TrackFame, last updated 28 October 2026. https://trackfame.com/person/bal-gangadhar-tilak
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