Page 29 - Swatantrata to Atmanirbharta : Lokmanya Tilak’s legacy

Hindus”, but “Hindus, Marathas, inhabitants of the Deccan
and the Konkan”.
The jury found Lokmanya Tilak guilty of sedition against the
British Government and was sentenced to 18 months prison.
About a month later, Damodar Chapekar was arrested and put
in the Yerawada jail and there again he chanced to meet Tilak
who was also held there, it is said that he expressed desire to be
cremated as per Hindu rites after death to Tilak.

Tilak’s tryst with being charged with sedition did not end
there, he was again, in 1908 charged with sedition for writing in
support of the Bengal revolutionaries, this time he was sent to
Mandalay in today’s Myanmar for a period of six years, there
he wrote essays on the Bhagvad Geeta which simplified the
essence of the Bhagvad Geeta called “Geeta Rahasya”
In conclusion, we can say that Tilak not only fought the British
himself, but he also inspired the common masses to do the same.
Be it through Ganeshotsav to bring in people from all castes and
creed, to starting swadeshi stores for mass consumption or even
newspapers to spread awareness, Tilak was a shining beacon of
light in the darkness of slaved India, and he aroused many of its
sons to stand up for the nation and the pride of people and take
the fight to the oppressors.

27 Swatantrata to Atmanirbharata