Bal Gangadhar Tilak 163rd Birth Anniversary: Here Are 10 Interesting Facts About the Freedom Fighter

It is because of the selfless sacrifices that many freedom fighters made that we are independent today. One of the most popular names in India’s freedom struggle is Bal Ganagadhar Tilak. Born in a Brahmin family, Tilak was a teacher, advocate, journalist, scholar, mathematician, philosopher, and a reformer who helped lay the foundation for India’s independence by building his own defiance of British rule into a national movement.

As the nation remembers his contribution on his 163rd birth anniversary on July 23 here are 10 interesting facts about Bal Gangadhar Tilak.

• Bal Gangadhar Tilak, was popularly known as Lokmanya, and dedicated his life for the cause of "Purna Swaraj" (complete self-rule).

• He was called ‘The Father of the Indian Unrest’ by the British people who ruled India till 1947.

• Being the first and foremost leader of the Indian Independence Movement, Bal Gangadhar Tilak became popular as the ‘Father of Swaraj’.

• To ensure that youngsters in India attain quality education, Bal Gangadhar Tilak found the Deccan Education Society in 1884.

• Bal Gangadhar Tilak joined the Indian National Congress Party in the year 1890.

• Bal Gangadhar Tilak had popular leaders such as Bipin Chandra Pal and Lala Lajpat Rai as his political companions. The three were popularly known as ‘Lal-Bal-Pal triumvirate.’

• When Bal Gangadhar Tilak was imprisoned during the freedom struggle, he wrote a book titled ‘Gita-Rahasya’ from behind the bars.

• Bal Gangadhar Tilak founded the Indian Home Rule League and served as its president and in 1916 he concluded the Lucknow Pact with Mohammed Ali Jinnah, which provided for Hindu-Muslim unity in the nationalist struggle.

• A coin was launched by the Government of India to commemorate his 150th birth anniversary.