Page 111 - Swatantrata to Atmanirbharta : Lokmanya Tilak’s legacy
P. 111
SociaL change:
reLevance of
Lokmanya tiLak’S
aPProach towardS
SuraJya
Smt. Nirmala Godbole
I. INTRODUCTION AND HISTORICAL
BACKGROUND
This year marks the death centenary of Lokmanya Tilak, the
“Maker of Modern India” as Mahatma Gandhi called him.
The Indian National Congress was founded in 1885. In the
beginning, leaders like Nyayamurti Ranade, Surendra Nath
Banerjee and Dadabhai Naoroji were the “moderate leaders” of
the Indian National Congress. The “moderate leaders” put forth
their demands before the British government in a constitutional
and peaceful manner.
However, pursuant to the division of Bengal in 1905, it became
evident that the British government was dividing people based
on religion. They followed the policy of “divide and rule”.
After the division of Bengal in 1905, under the leadership of
Lokmanya Tilak, the Indian National Congress changed its
109 Swatantrata to Atmanirbharata
