Page 100 - Swatantrata to Atmanirbharta : Lokmanya Tilak’s legacy

are still referred to as a matter of meditative study.

His views on Hindutva deserve a deep research as those form the
foundation stone of the thought process and treatise ‘Hindutva’
written by his disciple Swatantryaveer Savarkar. According to
Lokmanya Tilak, Hindu is a person, who by believing in the
principle of ‘प्रामराण्यबुद्धिर्वेदेषु’, accepts and follows the sanskaras,
preachings given by Shruti, Smruti and Puranas. By this, Tilak
defines a person to be a Hindu who follows the rituals, sanskaras,
traditional ways of upbringing (may not be in entirety) and such
character is reflected through his behavioural patterns. He may
not follow all the rituals propagated by Dharma and Scriptures
of Dharma such as Vedas, Upanishads, Smrutis and other religious
texts. But if his behaviour is visibly in consonance with those
auspicious behavioural patterns reflecting in his conduct and
customs that he follows, then he is a Hindu. Considering the
fabric of the society in those days, divided in various castes,
creeds, sects, religious beliefs etc., these thoughts of Lokmanya
Tilak were radical, visionary and all inclusive. By such thoughts,
he did not disturb the public sentiments, harmony of the society
and their religious beliefs. He was trying to take the society
few steps ahead by uniting the people on basis of the common
general principles and traditions prevailing in the minds of
the people and brought reforms to the best of their common
interests. Social reforms were not the need of that hour as per
the notion propounded by Tilak. Instead, he believed education
will naturally create the zest of freedom and upliftment in the
contemporary society. This process, if artificially induced may
create hindrance in the struggle for freedom which was the
demand of the then downtrodden and underprivileged society
at that time. Therefore, he opined that let reforms get scope
and develop in due course of time. As per Lokmanya’s views,
reform could be brought slowly as one has to consider the rigid
quality of the society and social beliefs and fabric of the people.
One can say that his Hindutva was more generous and softer
in nature, attempting to have synthesis. One step ahead was
the rule at that time which was very much commensurate in
proportion to social change, progress of the society in general
and the pace of its political awakening. Hindu Muslim conflict

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