State PCS - Maharashtra (MPSC)

• 24 Jul 2025

Birth Anniversary of Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak

Why in News? 

Lok Sabha Speaker Shri Om Birla paid tribute to Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak on the occasion of his birth anniversary (23rd July, 2025). 

Key Points  

Bal Gangadhar Tilak 

• About:  
  • Bal Gangadhar Tilak was born in July 1856 in Ratnagiri, Maharashtra, and revered as the father of Indian unrest. 
  • He was one of the earliest and the most vocal proponents of complete independence or swarajya (self-rule). 
  • Along with Lala Lajpat Rai and Bipin Chandra Pal, he was part of the Lal-Bal-Pal trio of leaders with extremist ideology. 
• The Surat Split of 1907:  
  • The Surat Split of 1907 in the Indian National Congress (INC) marked a division into Extremist and Moderate factions. Extremists, primarily from the Bombay Presidency, supported Tilak or Lajpat Rai for the presidency.  
    • But the split took place when Rasbehari Ghose was elected. 
• Home Rule League & Luckow Pact: 
  • He founded (1914) and served as president of the Indian Home Rule League. In 1916, he concluded the Lucknow Pact with Mohammed Ali Jinnah, which provided for Hindu-Muslim unity in the nationalist struggle. 
• Contribution to Education: 
  • Along with his associate Gopal Ganesh Agarkar and others, he co-founded the Deccan Education Society in 1884. 
  • Through this society, Tilak played a pivotal role in establishing Fergusson College in Pune in 1885. 
• Literary Works: 
  • Newspapers: Kesari (Marathi) and The Maratha (English) 
  • Books: Gita Rahasya and Arctic Home of the Vedas