Lokmanya Tilak National Award

The award was instituted in 1983 by the Tilak Smarak Mandir Trust.
This award is given every year on 1st August, the death anniversary of Lokmanya Tilak, to persons who have made remarkable and extraordinary contributions, working for the progress and development of the nation.

Who was Lokmanya Tilak?

Bal Gangadhar Tilak, commonly known as Lokmanya Tilak, was a prominent Indian nationalist, freedom fighter, social reformer, and political leader during the Indian independence movement.
He was one of the prime architects of modern India and probably the strongest advocate of Swaraj or Self Rule for India.
He is known for his slogan, “Swaraj is my birthright and I shall have it.”
He was born as Keshav Gangadhar Tilak and his followers bequeathed upon him the title of ‘Lokmanya’, meaning he who is revered by the people.

About Bal Gangadhar Tilak:

Birth: July 23, 1856.
Birthplace: Ratnagiri (now in Maharashtra state), India.
Death: August 1, 1920, in Mumbai.
He was a scholar, mathematician, philosopher, and ardent nationalist who helped lay the foundation for India’s independence by building his own defiance of British rule into a national movement.
He was also known as Lokmanya Tilak.
His famous declaration “Swaraj is my birthright, and I shall have it” served as an inspiration for future revolutionaries during India’s struggle for freedom.
The British Government termed him the “Father of Indian Unrest”. (Sedition Law)

Important Institutions Started by Tilak:

Deccan Education Society (1884): He was the founder of the Deccan Education Society along with his associate Gopal Ganesh Agarkar and others.
Fergusson College (1885): He was one of the founders of Fergusson College in Pune.

Books and Newspapers

Tilak started two weeklies, Kesari in Marathi and Mahratta in English in 1880–1881 with Gopal Ganesh Agarkar as the first editor.
One of his notable works is “The Arctic Home in the Vedas,” where he proposed that the Vedas were composed in the Arctic and brought south after the last ice age. This theory generated significant debate among scholars but reflected Tilak’s interest in connecting Indian history and culture with ancient global civilizations.
In “The Orion,” Tilak attempted to calculate the time of the Vedas using the position of different Nakshatras (stars). He delved into astronomical interpretations of ancient texts to establish their antiquity and cultural significance.
Tilak’s work Shrimadh Bhagvad Gita Rahasya, which he wrote during his imprisonment at Mandalay – the analysis of Karma Yoga in the Bhagavad Gita, which is known to be a gift of the Vedas and the Upanishads.

FAQs About Lokmanya Tilak and His Contributions:

1. Who was Lokmanya Tilak and what was his role in Indian history?

Lokmanya Tilak, also known as Bal Gangadhar Tilak, was a prominent Indian nationalist, freedom fighter, social reformer, and political leader during the Indian independence movement. He played a pivotal role in advocating for Swaraj (Self Rule) for India and is known for his famous slogan, “Swaraj is my birthright and I shall have it.”

2. When and why was the Lokmanya Tilak National Award instituted?

The Lokmanya Tilak National Award was established in 1983 by the Tilak Smarak Mandir Trust. This award is presented annually on August 1st, which marks the death anniversary of Lokmanya Tilak, to individuals who have made remarkable contributions to the progress and development of the nation.

3. What were the significant institutions started by Lokmanya Tilak?

Lokmanya Tilak was a key figure in the establishment of important educational institutions:
Deccan Education Society (1884): Co-founded with Gopal Ganesh Agarkar and others.
Fergusson College (1885): A renowned college in Pune that he helped found.

Read also:- Home Rule Movement (1915–1916)