Page 120 - Swatantrata to Atmanirbharta : Lokmanya Tilak’s legacy

was a movement anchored in cultural revival. He initiated the
Ganpati festival, with a view to promote social gatherings that
would become fertile grounds for like minded discussions and
nationalist views.

Ganpati festival was yet another branding exercise- where a
large-scale ritual would offer the perfect ambience for thoughts
on swaraj, swadeshi and intellectual curiosity. It was through
the rituals that a concept as abstract as swaraj could be reached
to every nook and corner. It helped in internalising the concept.
Even today we see the brands like Amazon waiting for Indian
festivals to cash on to the euphoria.
To summarise, Tilak was way ahead of his times in
envisioning an educational system that was more autonomous
and connected to society and Nation at large. He was able to lay
the foundation of Nation building through education system
and infrastructure. He would always be an inspirational figure
for the youth and academicians.

Swatantrata to Atmanirbharata 118