By Sneha Gavadi : Lokmanya Gangadar Tilak was born on 23 July 1856, in Ratnagiri.In A.D 1856 he was born. He was very intelligent. His father's name was Gangadar Tilak, who was a school teacher and Sanskrit scholar.and mother's name Parvatibae.
He was an Indian nationalist, teacher, lawyer, journalist and social reformer who was first popular leader of the Indian Independence movement. He was called as ‘Father of the Indian unrest” by the British colonial authorities.
He was one of the first and strongest advocates of "Swaraj" and a strong radical. His famous quote, "Swaraj is my birthright, and I shall have it!" is well-remembered in India even today. He also formed a close alliance with Muhammad Ali Jinnah, later the founder of Pakistan, during the Indian Home rule movement.
He joined the Indian National Congress in 1890. He opposed its moderate attitude, especially towards the fight for self-government. He was one of the most-eminent radicals at the time.
He took up this issue by publishing articles in his paper Kesari (It was written in Marathi, and Maratha was written in English), quoting the Hindu scripture, the Bhagavad Gita.
In 1894, Tilak transformed the household worshiping of Ganesha into a public event(Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav).
He started the Marathi weekly,Kesari in 1880-81 with Gopal Ganesh Agarkar as the first editor. Kesari later became a daily and continues publication to this day.
He said, "I regard India as my Motherland and my Goddess, the people in India are my kith and kin, and loyal and Tilak authored Shrimad Bhagvad Gita Rahasya in prison at Mandalay, Burma - the analysis of 'Karma Yoga' in the Bhagavad Gita, which is known to be gift of the Vedas and the Upanishads.
In 2007, the Government of India released a coin to commemorate the 150th birth anniversary of Bal Gangadhar Tilak. "their political and social emancipation is my highest religion and duty".
He died on 1st August 1920.
