Thread by @BhandarkarI

Lokmanya Tilak is one of the chief architects of India's freedom struggle. His legacy but extends far beyond.

There are few threads that bind @BhandarkarI to his legacy, thus with great humility we extend our tribute to the great man on his 101st death anniversary.

(Thread)

Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak was born on July 23, 1856 in Ratnagiri district of Maharashtra.

He would soon move to Pune, and it would become a defining move in many different ways.

In 1880, at the age of 24, he founded the New English School in Pune with his associates.

In 4 years time, they would establish the Deccan Education Society in Pune. Today it runs some of the prestigious institutions in India including the iconic Fergusson College (Est. 1885).

In 1881, he founded a marathi newspaper “Kesari” and an English weekly “Mahratta”. These media outlets would soon become his most potent weapons in his fight against the British Raj.

In 1890, he joined Indian National Congress and became a voice of its radical faction.

At the turn of the 19th century, Bubonic Plague and the government’s handling of it became a point of great friction.

Tilak’s leadership in this era propelled him to national prominence.

Valentine Chirol in his iconic book, The Indian Unrest, dubs Lokmanya Tilak as the “Father of Indian Unrest”.

He further states: “ Tilak, the strongest personality in Indian politics, was gradually making recruits among the more ardent spirits all over India … He pulled the strings at the two consecutive sessions held in 1905 at Banares and 1906 in Calcutta. ...

... It was then that the Congress passed from mere negative antagonism to direct defiance of Government”

A copy of the original edition of this book, published in 1910 is hosted in the library of the @BhandarkarI

Bhandarkar Institute carries an imprint of Lokmanya Tilak in many other ways as well.

Lokmanya Tilak was a student of Sir R. G. Bhandarkar at the Deccan College, and despite their many differences they retained a very close bond.

Dr. Shreenand Bapat in this embedded video, sheds light on the relationship between the two.

Lokmanya Tilak supported the foundation of the institute and also became a “Patron” by paying INR 1000 in 1917.

Dr. Bapat, in his talk, also shares some of the original clippings of Kesari & Mahratta in 1916/17, where Lokmanya writes about @BhandarkarI

His affection for the Institute did not only stem from his affection for Sir Bhandarkar. It also had to do with his great passion about exploring the origins of this civilisation.

His contribution to the field of Indology is immense.

He published 4 related books: "Shrimadh Bhagvad Gita Rahasya", "Orion", "The Arctic Home of Vedas" and “Vedic Chronology and Vedanga Jyotish”.

His enthusiasm for understanding the past was equally matched by his passion for defining a constructive future for this country.

He was an ardent proponent of modern science & industries. He helped establish the foundation of industrial infrastructure in Pune and Maharashtra.

For his book, “The Technological Indian”, Prof Ross Bassett went through 30 years’ archives of “the Mahratta” (English) and “Kesari” (Marathi).

Prof. Bassett says: “the Mahratta was avidly covering the technological developments of the day (in addition to its criticisms of the British, of course). There was perhaps a sense that India was being left behind”

firstpost.com/living/india-a…

@aparanjape quotes anecdote from the book in @htTweets

"Inspired by his writing a Pune student Keshav Malhar Bhat headed to MIT in the US in the 1880s & became the first Indian to study there. He came back & set up a small engineering venture in Pune."

hindustantimes.com/cities/pune-ne…

Tilak was vital in institutionalising the freedom struggle & making it a cohesive juggernaut.

The ecosystem of industries & education that he built in Pune & the rest of Maharashtra was ahead of its time.

Mahatma Gandhi thus rightfully called him the “Maker of Modern India”.

Tilak strove to understand the character of the Indian civilisation. He built relationships with the international community. He focused on systems of governance, promoted scientific education & industries.

He remains highly relevant to what India is trying accomplish today.

Today, on 101st death anniversary of this great man and one of the earliest patrons of the institute, we pay a sincere homage to Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak.