Bal Gangadhar Tilak: The Man Who Made Indians Believe in ThemselvesBal Gangadhar Tilak: The Man Who Made Indians Believe in ThemselvesTilak was famously called the "Father of Indian Unrest" by Britishers due to his boldness and fiery speeches against colonial ruleHis iconic slogan “Swaraj is my birthright and I shall have it” became the battle cry of the Indian independence movementThrough his newspapers, Kesari (Marathi) and The Mahratta (English), Tilak spread awareness and awakened the massesTilak believed in strengthening Indian society through education. He co-founded the Deccan Education Society in 1884 Tilak revived Ganesh Chaturthi and Shivaji Jayanti as public festivals to unite people and spark nationalismTilak led the Extremist wing of the Indian National Congress, pushing for direct action and self-rule, unlike the moderatesTilak was imprisoned multiple times, including a six-year term in Mandalay, Burma, for sedition—but never gave upWhile in prison, he wrote Gita Rahasya, interpreting the Bhagavad Gita as a call for action and duty, not renunciationTilak passed away on 1st August 1920, but his legacy as a fierce patriot and visionary continues to inspire generations