Page 46 - Swatantrata to Atmanirbharta : Lokmanya Tilak’s legacy

The facet of his emphasis on development of industries
was influenced by the thoughts of Frederich List, the German
economist who advocated ‘Nationalist Economics’ instead of
global economic science. Before Tilak, Justice M.G. Ranade
and Dadabhai Nowroji also had vigorously propounded after
deep research and study of Indian economics as a special branch
of Economic Science. Dadabhai’s treatise viz. ‘Gold Drain
from India’ to the tune of INR. 51.5 crores by 1905, made a
very powerful impact on Indian scholars, economists, political
scientists, and political activists, by realising how the imperial
power of Britain, exploited, and looted rich and prosperous
India, that became impoverished in the 19th Century itself!
In my article, I am going to bring out facts which prove
that Tilak’s thoughts of Swadeshi, greatly influenced the
young entrepreneurs to launch their industries and businesses,
following his mantra. Tilak not only preached the philosophy
of swadeshi, but he participated in ventures of his followers
by his lead and concrete support, raising finance and required
resources for the successful implementation. This article will
be helpful for students and researchers of economics and
management to know his efforts to encourage Indian industrial
enterprises which came into existence during 1900 to 1940, and
subsequently highlights the distinguished contribution of Tilak,
in the field of industry in India.

Lokmanya was the first and last leader of pan-India following
along with Bipin Chandra Pal, Lala Lajpat Rai, Aurobindo
Ghosh, Chidambaram Pillai, Annie Beasant, Mohammed Ali
Jinnah, Jamnadas Mehta, Kanhaiyalal Munshi, Pt. Madan
Mohan Malviya, Adv Dajisaheb Khare, Adv. Babasaheb
Khaparde, Tej Bahadur Sapru etc. who were leaders in other
Indian States, across the borders of Maharashtra. Tilak had a
unique knack of making intimate friends and followers who
were stalwarts in their fields. He used to become friend and
philosopher to them, therefore until his death nobody could
attain this stature and exalted position in the pre 1920s Indian
leadership. I was brought up in a family that revered Lokmanya
as demi – God! My father who was a liberal social reformer,
had great regard for Justice M.G. Ranade for his balanced,

Swatantrata to Atmanirbharata 44