Page 97 - Swatantrata to Atmanirbharta : Lokmanya Tilak’s legacy

a tribute to

the Legendary

contribution of

Lokmanya tiLak

Adv. Nitin Apte

Introduction
Shri. Bal Gangadhar Tilak, popularly known as Lokmanya,
was basically an educationist and philosopher by choice. Out
of situational compulsions he was dragged into politics and
thereafter he became well-known as “Lokmanya’ and ‘father
of Indian Unrest’. He was very much interested in pursuing his
education and simultaneously working in the field of education.
His mentor and Guru Maharshi Anna Saheb Patwardhan
persuaded Tilak to join politics and work for the people. After
deep thinking Tilak reluctantly accepted the proposal. Tilak told
Anna Saheb that there are millions of mothers who are willing
to educate their children. The nation can be enlightened with the
spirit of freedom only if such children are imparted knowledge
and character. His broader vision in educating these children
was to develop a nationalist approach among common people.
Ultimately, this thought founded and practiced thereafter by
Tilak resulted into the establishment of New English School,
a school dedicated to propagating nationalist education and

95 Swatantrata to Atmanirbharata