Page 25 - Swatantrata to Atmanirbharta : Lokmanya Tilak’s legacy

tiLak - the inSPirer

Dr. Parikshit Mahankal

As I begin writing about Bal Gangadhar Tilak in his death
centenary year, there are many thoughts that immediately
crowd the mind, prominently, Ganeshostav, Kesari, being a
co-founder of the Deccan Education Society or setting up the
Bombay Store along with Jamshedji Tata for further spreading
the message and usage of Swadeshi.

Today, if we look back at time and contemplate what vision
did Tilak carry, in broad terms, he focused on awakening public
consciousness using the most potent weapons, Education,
Media, Social Unity and Self-Reliance or Atmanirbharta. The
level of his contributions to the Indian history are unparalleled
and they remain an inspiration even today.
I would like to focus on his inspirational aspects of Self-respect
and Nationalism which was a big factor in the revenge of Pune.
Let us look at the scenario with the advantage of hindsight.
In the year,1896, on the 2nd of October, bubonic plague
was detected in Pune and it started causing wide spread panic
amongst the people, very similar to what we see now during
the Covid-19 situation. This spread was more prominent in the
Peth areas.
The plague wave that had reached Pune was part of the ‘Third
Plague Pandemic’ which had started in Yunnan, China in 1855
and entered India through the port city of Mumbai via Hong
23 Swatantrata to Atmanirbharata