Page 157 - Swatantrata to Atmanirbharta : Lokmanya Tilak’s legacy

Lokmanya tiLak:

father of indian

renaiSSance

Dr. Giribala Dewasthale

Lokmanya Tilak may be considered the father of Indian
renaissance. He spearheaded a period in Indian history when
there was renewed interest in India as a civilisational entity.
There was a rejuvenation of nationalistic thoughts and ideas,
coupled with a resurgence of ideas and ideals rooted in India’s
philosophical tradition of the Vedas and the Upanishads.

In the following paragraphs I will explore Lokmanya Tilak’s
contribution to Indian Renaissance and why he was uniquely
poised to do so.

1. Tilak the Polymath
Lokmanya Tilak’s stature as a freedom fighter and social
reformer is well documented. His status as a polymath has
received less attention. Well versed in law, mathematics,
Sanskrit, astronomy, and history, he was truly a treasure trove
of knowledge. He also learned German and French to read
the works of historians and Indologists from these countries,
including the works of historians such as Prof. Max Mueller.
The amazing thing is that he wrote two of his books while
in jail. “The Arctic home in the Vedas” was written while

155 Swatantrata to Atmanirbharata