PREVIOUSLY ASKED IN:
PSC Miscellaneous Prelims 2018
Answer
Bal Gangadhar Tilak
Explanation
Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak, one of the most prominent extremist leaders of the Indian independence movement, coined the immortal slogan: "Swaraj is my birthright and I shall have it." He delivered this powerful message in 1916 during the Belgaum session while launching the Indian Home Rule League. This slogan became a rallying cry for the Indian masses demanding self-rule from the British Empire.
Key Points
- > The slogan was coined by Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak.
- > He was a core member of the extremist triumvirate 'Lal-Bal-Pal'.
- > He founded two newspapers: 'Kesari' (in Marathi) and 'Mahratta' (in English).
- > He popularized the Ganesh Chaturthi and Shivaji festivals in Maharashtra to build national spirit.
- > He authored the famous book 'Gita Rahasya' while imprisoned in Mandalay jail.
- > Valentine Chirol, a British journalist, called him the 'Father of Indian Unrest'.
Additional Information
Iconic Slogans of the Indian Freedom Struggle
| Slogan | Leader | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Swaraj is my birthright | Bal Gangadhar Tilak | Home Rule Movement |
| Inquilab Zindabad | Bhagat Singh (coined by Hasrat Mohani) | Revolutionary struggle |
| Simon Go Back | Lala Lajpat Rai (popularized it) | Anti-Simon Commission protests |
| Do or Die | Mahatma Gandhi | Quit India Movement |
| Dilli Chalo | Subhas Chandra Bose | INA's march towards India |
Memory Tips
- Lal-Bal-Pal roles: Tilak (Bal) was the intellectual firebrand of Maharashtra who demanded self-rule (Swaraj) explicitly, laying the ideological foundation for complete independence.