Page 66 - Swatantrata to Atmanirbharta : Lokmanya Tilak’s legacy

2.4 Neglect of Agriculture

Tilak wrote that the British Government had made huge
investment in Railway for the convenience of the Administration
and Military staff, however, government does not have money
for the irrigation projects and canals benefiting common people.
2.5 Neglect of Industrialization and Technical Training

He stated his opinion about the rulers’ total negligence
towards the industrial sector. He showed that the government
spends huge amount on the import of foreign goods every
year, however, no money is spent for the provision of technical
training. Here, he quoted the active support of the Japanese
government to the industrialization in their country. He warned
that development of our country would not be possible unless
the government and rich people came together and supported
the industrialization process.

Tilak’s views on Industrial Education reflected in his two
editorials have been discussed in detail in the next sections of
this article. The selected two editorials are ‘Industrial Education
and Government’ and Agricultural Education and Industry
Education’ published in Kesari on 26th January 1904 and 7th
June 1904, respectively.
3. Editorial ‘Industrial Education and Government’
(26th January 1904)

Tilak had written this editorial to inform the readers how
the colonial British Government was doing injustice with our
country by neglecting the industry education. The rulers had the
fear that if industrial development happens in India, it will affect
their trade. He criticized the government for not implementing
the Cliburn Committee recommendations, neglecting domestic
small industries, and not undertaking the industrial surveys.
3.1 Industrial Training for Economic Development
Lokmanya expressed the importance of industrial training
and vocational education for the economic upliftment of the
people. He was concerned that the government did not have
proper provision for it. He criticized the British Government
for neglecting such an important issue which was very much
Swatantrata to Atmanirbharata 64