Question

Discuss about the efforts of Bal Gangadhar Tilak which were beneficial in the spread of Assertive nationalism.

Answer 1

Bal Gangadhar Tilak believed that education for the new generation of freedom fighters should be based on assertive nationalism.
(i) He started the ‘Deccan Education Society’ in 1884. Under this Society many educational schools were opened where the students were taught patriotism and national pride. Ferguson College in Pune is one such institution, where assertive nationalism was the foundation of the student. Many revolutionaries like Bhagat Singh and Batukeshwar Dutt were the product of such institutions.
(ii) In his paper ‘Kesari’ he wrote, ‘If thieves enter our house and we do not have sufficient strength to drive them out, we should without hesitation, shut them up and bum them alive.’
(iii) He organised ‘Akharas’ and revived the Ganapati festival to create and build assertive nationalism among tte people.