Tilak: The Empire's Biggest Enemy

Bal Gangadhar Tilak was seen as the greatest threat to British rule in India. Dubbed ‘the father of Indian unrest,’ he was prosecuted three times for sedition, convicted for his fiery writings in the nationalist daily Kesari, and became an enduring symbol of resistance against colonial rule. Tilak is the first definitive biography of the man who famously declared, "Freedom is my birthright, and I shall have it."

Before Mahatma Gandhi, there was Bal Gangadhar Tilak—the revolutionary who ignited the flames of Indian nationalism. The Times of London referred to him as ‘the father of Indian unrest,’ and Edward Montagu, the one-time Secretary of State for India, acknowledged that Tilak had ‘the greatest influence of any person’ on the Indian people. For the British Raj, Tilak was the foremost seditionist, and his relentless pursuit of Indian independence earned him the title 'enemy of the British government.'

Hailed as 'Lokmanya,' or 'One Revered by the People,' Tilak transformed India’s fight for freedom from mere intellectual discourse to a mass movement. His fierce writings, relentless activism, and unwavering stance on Swaraj (self-rule) marked him as a formidable adversary to the British, who feared his influence and power. At a time when the British sought to undermine Indian self-worth, dismissing Indians as ‘uncivilized heathens,’ Tilak passionately argued for the value of India’s rich cultural heritage, awakening a sense of pride and identity among Indians.

This definitive biography traces Tilak's journey from his early days in Konkan to his influential role in shaping India’s freedom struggle, highlighting his battles against the British, his imprisonments, and his unwavering commitment to Swaraj.

Rediscover an icon of Indian history whose ideas and actions continue to inspire today. Bal Gangadhar Tilak's story is not just one of resistance but a testament to perseverance, conviction, and the enduring quest for freedom.