Page 133 - Swatantrata to Atmanirbharta : Lokmanya Tilak’s legacy

society. In a world where wars are not always fought on the
borders, there is a sustained effort to weaken our identity. We
seem almost defensive as Indians.
Tilak used education, culture, and media to unite the masses
under a common umbrella to create a national identity and
push the cause of Swaraj and Swadeshi. All these routes are still
valid. We do need a strong nationalist sentiment to protect our
democracy. We are a peace loving, intelligent and progressive
culture. We have an inbuilt mechanism, that should we find
anomalies, we are able to do a system reset. We must put the
education system, our media, and the cultural community to
work to create an unshakeable national identity. All these areas
are the biggest influencers to create a strong brand India we can
be proud of.

6. Conclusion
Awakening the national consciousness is not an ephemeral
concept. It is a work in progress.
Tilak extolled people to be fearless, shed weakmindedness,
apathy and become heroic, courageous, and hardworking. It
is collective effort of a billion people so that Tilak’s dream of
a swaraj is fulfilled. He fought for “Poorna swaraj” from an
oppressive colonial ruler. We, a hundred years later, can still fight
for good governance which is our birth right. Good governance
where our wealth is not squandered away by corruption and
apathy by modern day rulers who are still steeped in a feudal
mindset and an electorate resigned to its fate.
Swadeshi as tool to bring wealth home for our people is an
idea whose time has come. A strong domestic economy built on
foundation of technology and innovation. A system to monetise
the purchasing power and the intellectual capacity of its people.
Afterall, everyone respects a heavy wallet.

Being Indian is a matter of privilege. Identity is not meant to
be provincial. It is what gives you your place under the sun. It is
what gives you the power of a billion people. Its value cannot
be eroded by being irresponsible or inimical.

131 Swatantrata to Atmanirbharata