Topic– Modern Indian history from about the middle of the eighteenth century until the present- significant events, personalities, issues
1) Bal Gangadhar Tilak played a vital and major role in India’s freedom struggle. Discuss.(250 words)
Directive word
Discuss- this is an all-encompassing directive which mandates us to write in detail about the key demand of the question. we also have to discuss about the related and important aspects of the question in order to bring out a complete picture of the issue in hand.
Key demand of the question.
The question wants us to write in detail about Bal Gangadhar Tilak- his role and contribution towards India’s freedom struggle.
Structure of the answer
Introduction– write a few introductory lines about Tilak. E.g Bal Gangadhar Tilak was an Indian social reformer and freedom activist. He was one of the prime architects of modern India and probably the strongest advocates of Swaraj or Self Rule for India.
Body-
Discuss in points about his contribution towards India’s freedom struggle. E.g
- Gangadhar Tilak joined the Indian National Congress in 1890.
- He soon started vocalizing his strong opposition to the moderate views of the party on self-rule. He maintained that simple constitutional agitation in itself was futile against the British.
- Following the partition of Bengal by Lord Curzon, Tilak wholeheartedly supported the Swadeshi (Indigenous) movement and Boycott of British goods. But his methods also raised bitter controversies within the Indian National Congress (INC) and the movement itself.
- During 1908-1914, Bal Gangadhar Tilak spent had to undergo six years of rigorous imprisonment in Mandalay Jail, Burma.
- Tilak returned to India in 1915 when the political situation was fast changing under the shadow of the World War I. There was unprecedented celebration after Tilak was released.
- Deciding to reunite with his fellow nationalists, Tilak founded the All India Home Rule League in 1916 with Joseph Baptista, Annie Besant and Muhammad Ali Jinnah.
- Bal Gangadhar Tilak published two newspapers -‘Mahratta’ (English) and ‘Kesari’ (Marathi). Both the newspapers stressed on making the Indians aware of the glorious past and encouraged the masses to be self reliant etc.
Conclusion– based on your discussion, form a fair and a balanced conclusion on the given issue.
