LOKMANYA TILAK

1st August is death anniversary of Likmanya Tilak. Ninety long years have gone since. Longer than his life of 64 years. Long enough to forget not only the work but even the name of the ordinary person. But Lokmanya Tilak was no ordinary person. The first amongst a series of great freedom fighters who could be called as true national leader of immense following. There were leaders before him, during his time but none could be termed as leader of masses. A torch carried later on by Mamatma Gandhi and Pandit Nehru. The title LOKMANYA was not conferred upon him by any university or cult. It was spontaneous recognition coming directly from the people. A feat achieved perhaps only by Mahatma Gandhi later on. The title Pandit of Nehru was as a Kashmir Pandit like Pandit Motilal, his father.
The titles conferred on him may be spontaneous but the titles conferred by him on others were trend setters. Take the example of BALGANDHARVA by him on child age Naryan Rajhans. Not only Balgandhrva became legend himself but many other Gandharvas like Savai Ganhdrav, Nutan Gandharva, Kumar gandharva followed all of whom were genius of their own merit.

The political unrest which eventually lead to the freedom of India in 1947 owes its beginning to Lokmanya. Gandhi and Jeena might have fallen apart later on but at the beginning of their political careers both were ardent followers of Lokmanya. The then Governor General has recorded and conceded to his popularity as much greater than his at the time when Likmanya was freed from Mandale prison in 1914.

But its not only the political career that makes him outstanding but his unparalleled intelligence and scholarship amply demonstrated by his minuscule of literature written by him makes him truly great. A Calendar ( PANCHANG ) was introduced near his end of life and named after him and is still followed by some in Konkan parts. It gives importance to the visual matching of the stars in the sky and stars mentioned in the calendar A revolutionary thought unfortunately dying at the hands of traditionalism. Would not have been so had he lived little longer. His scholar status as astronomer was unquestioned during his life. And of course the legendary GEETA RAHASYA which was path breaking study of Bhagvadgeeta. ( Translated in practically all Indian and many European languages) Such outstanding scholarly work was a mere bi product of his jail confinement from 1908 to 1914. Some times I feel that the British have done great favor to Indians by giving compulsory break to him from active politics. Even great achievements of starting a news paper and founding educational trust become nondescript by comparison. Both Kesari and Ferguson college of Deccan Education Society from Pune are legends in themselves

Its impossible to bring his entire personality within small framework of a blog but I feel strongly to tell about him in the same spirit in which students like me were asked to on every 1st August during our school days. I am happy to note that even now intellectuals are trying to fathom his wisdom and foresight.

I think nothing aptly offers tribute to him than the verse printed in Kesari.

Tav smaran santat sphurandayi amha ghado,
Kalank maticha zado vishay sarvatha navado,
Tat-andhri kamali pado muradita hatane ado,
Viyog ghadata rado man bhavschritri jado.

( May your motivating memories come to us always
May the blight and lust go away from our mind and intellect,
May we fall at pair of your lotus feet and resist being turned .
May we cry to be departed and may we enjoin your life.)

Arvind Khare
Khare_am@yahoo.com