Born: October 2, 1869

Martyrdom: January 30, 1948.

Achievements: Known as Father of Nation; played a key role in winning freedom for
India; introduced the concept of Ahimsa and Satyagraha.

Mahatma Gandhi popularly known as Father of Nation played a stellar role in India's
freedom struggle. Born in a Bania family in Kathiawar, Gujarat, his real name was
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (M.K. Gandhi). The title Mahatma came to be associated
with his name much later. Before Gandhiji's arrival on the Indian political scene, freedom
struggle was limited only to the intelligentsia. Mahatma Gandhi's main contribution lay in
the fact that he bridged the gulf between the intelligentsia and the masses and widened
the concept of Swaraj to include almost every aspect of social and moral regeneration.
Paying tribute to Mahatma Gandhi on his death, famous scientist Albert Einstein said,
"Generations to come will scarce believe that such a man as this walked the earth in flesh
and blood".

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was born on October 2, 1869, at Porbandar, a small town
on the western coast of India, which was then one of the many tiny states in Kathiawar.
Gandhiji was born in middle class family of Vaishya caste. His father, Karamchand
Gandhi, was a Dewan or Prime Minister of Porbandar. His mother, Putlibai, was a very
religious lady and left a deep impression on Gandhiji's mind. Gandhiji was a mediocre
student and was excessively shy and timid.

Gandhiji was truthful in his conduct right from the childhood. There is a very famous
incident in this regard. A British school inspector once came to Gandhiji's school and set
a spelling test. Gandhiji spelled all the words correctly except kettle. The class teacher
noticed the mistake and gestured Gandhiji to copy the correct spelling from the boy
sitting next to him. Gandhiji refused to take the hint and was later scolded for his
"stupidity".

Gandhiji was married at the age of thirteen to Kasturbai. He was in high school at that
time. Later on in his life, Gandhiji denounced the custom of child marriage and termed it
as cruel. After matriculating from the high school, Gandhiji joined the Samaldas College
in Bhavnagar. After the death of Gandhiji's father in 1885, a family suggested that if
Gandhiji hoped to take his father's place in the state service he had better become a
barrister which he could do in England in three years. Gandhi welcomed the idea but his
mother was objected to the idea of going abroad. To win his mother's approval Gandhiji
took a solemn vow not to touch wine, women and meat and remained true to it
throughout his stay in England.

Gandhiji sailed for England on September 4, 1888. Initially he had difficulty in adjusting
to English customs and weather but soon he overcame it. Gandhiji completed his Law
degree in 1891 and returned to India. He decided to set up legal practice in Bombay but
couldn't establish himself. Gandhiji returned to Rajkot but here also he could not make
much headway. At this time Gandhiji received an offer from Dada Abdulla & Co. to
proceed to South Africa on their behalf to instruct their counsel in a lawsuit. Gandhiji
jumped at the idea and sailed for South Africa in April 1893.

It was in South Africa that Gandhiji's transformation from Mohandas to Mahatma took
place. Gandhiji landed at Durban and soon he realized the oppressive atmosphere of
racial snobbishness against Indians who were settled in South Africa in large numbers.
After about a week's stay in Durban Gandhiji left for Pretoria, the capital of the
Transvaal, in connection with a lawsuit. When the train reached Pietermaritzburg, the
capital of Natal, at about 9 p.m. a white passenger who boarded the train objected to the
presence of a "coloured" man in the compartment and Gandhji was ordered by a railway
official to shift to a third class. When he refused to do so, a constable pushed him out and
his luggage was taken away by the railway authorities. It was winter and bitterly cold.
This incident changed Gandhiji's life forever. He decided to fight for the rights of
Indians. Gandhiji organised the Indian community in South Africa and asked them to
forget all distinctions of religion and caste. He suggested the formation of an association
to look after the Indian settlers and offered his free time and services.

During his stay in South Africa, Gandhiji's life underwent a change and he developed
most of his political ideas. Gandhiji decided to dedicate himself completely to the service
of humanity. He realized that absolute continence or brahmacharya was indispensable for
the purpose as one could not live both after the flesh and the spirit. In 1906, Gandhiji
took a vow of absolute continence. In the course of his struggle in South Africa, Gandhiji,
developed the concepts of Ahimsa (non-violence) and Satyagraha (holding fast to truth or
firmness in a righteous cause). Gandhiji's struggle bore fruit and in 1914 in an agreement
between Gandhiji and South African Government, the main Indian demands were
conceded.

Gandhiji returned to India in 1915 and on the advice of his political guru Gopal Krishna
Gokhale, spent the first year touring throughout the country to know the real India. After
an year of wandering, Gandhiji settled down on the bank of the river Sabarmati, on the
outskirts of Ahmedabad, where he founded an ashram called Satyagraha Ashram.
Gandhiji's first satyagraha in India was in Champaran, in Bihar, where he went in 1917 at
the request of a poor peasants to inquire into the grievances of the much exploited
peasants of that district, who were compelled by British indigo planters to grow indigo on
15 percent of their land and part with the whole crop for rent. Gandhiji's Satyagraha
forced British government to set up a inquiry into the condition of tenant farmers. The
report of the committee of which Gandhi was a member went in favour of the tenant
farmers. The success of his first experiment in satyagraha in India greatly enhanced
Gandhiji's reputation in the country.

In 1921, Gandhji gave the call for Non-cooperation movement against the ills of British
rule. Gandhiji's call roused the sleeping nation. Many Indians renounced their titles and
honours, lawyers gave up their practice, and students left colleges and schools. Non-
cooperation movement also brought women into the domain of freedom struggle for the
first time. Non-cooperation movement severely jolted the British government. But the
movement ended in an anti-climax in February 1922. An outbreak of mob violence in
Chauri Chaura so shocked and pained Gandhi that he refused to continue the campaign
and undertook a fast for five days to atone for a crime committed by others in a state of
mob hysteria.

Gandhiji was sentenced to six years imprisonment but was released in 1924 on medical
grounds. For the next five years Gandhi seemingly retired from active agitational politics
and devoted himself to the propagation of what he regarded as the basic national needs,
namely, Hindu-Muslim unity, removal of untouchability, equality of women,
popularization of hand-spinning and the reconstruction of village economy.

On March 12, 1930 Gandhiji started the historic Dandi March to break the law which had
deprived the poor man of his right to make his own salt. On April 6, 1930 Gandhiji broke
the Salt law at the sea beach at Dandi. This simple act was immediately followed by a
nation-wide defiance of the law. This movement galvanized the whole nation and came to
be known as "Civil Disobedience Movement". Within a few weeks about a hundred
thousand men and women were in jail, throwing mighty machinery of the British
Government out of gear. This forced the then Viceroy Lord Irwin to call Gandhiji for
talks. On March 5, 1931 Gandhi Irwin Pact was signed. Soon after signing the pact
Gandhiji went to England to attend the First Round Table Conference. Soon after his
return from England Gandhiji was arrested without trial.

After the outbreak of Second World War in 1939, Gandhiji again became active in the
political arena. British Government wanted India's help in the war and Congress in return
wanted a clear-cut promise of independence from British government. But British
government dithered in its response and on August 8, 1942 Gandhiji gave the call for
Quit India Movement. Soon the British Government arrested Gandhiji and other top
leaders of Congress. Disorders broke out immediately all over India and many violent
demonstrations took place. While Gandhiji was in jail his wife Kasturbai passed away.
Gandhiji too had a severe attack of Malaria. In view of his deteriorating health he was
released from the jail in May 1944.

Second World War ended in 1945 and Britain emerged victorious. In the general
elections held in Britain in 1945, Labour Party came to power, and Atlee became the
Prime Minister. He promised an early realization of self Government in India. A Cabinet
Mission arrived from England to discuss with Indian leaders the future shape of a free
and united India, but failed to bring the Congress and Muslims together. India attained
independence but Jinnah's intransigence resulted in the partition of the country.
Communal riots between Hindus and Muslims broke out in the country in the aftermath
of partition. Tales of atrocities on Hindus in Pakistan provoked Hindus in India and they
targeted Muslims. Gandhiji worked ceaselessly to promote unity between Hindus and
Muslims. This angered some Hindu fundamentalists and on January 30, 1948 Gandhiji
was shot dead by one such fundamentalist Nathu Ram Godse while he was going for his
evening prayers. The last words on the lips of Gandhiji were Hey Ram
Born: January 23, 1897
Died: August 18, 1945
Achievements: Passed Indian Civil Services Exam; elected Congress President in 1938
and 1939; formed a new party All India Forward block; organized Azad Hind Fauj to
overthrow British Empire from India.

Subhas Chandra Bose, affectionately called as Netaji, was one of the most prominent
leaders of Indian freedom struggle. Though Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru have
garnered much of the credit for successful culmination of Indian freedom struggle, the
contribution of Subash Chandra Bose is no less. He has been denied his rightful place in
the annals of Indian history. He founded Indian National Army (Azad Hind Fauj) to
overthrow British Empire from India and came to acquire legendary status among Indian
masses.

Subhas Chandra Bose was born on January 23, 1897 in Cuttack, Orissa. His father Janaki
Nath Bose was a famous lawyer and his mother Prabhavati Devi was a pious and
religious lady. Subhas Chandra Bose was the ninth child among fourteen siblings. Subhas
Chandra Bose was a brilliant student right from the childhood. He topped the
matriculation examination of Calcutta province and graduated with a First Class in
Philosophy from the Scottish Churches College in Calcutta. He was strongly influenced
by Swami Vivekananda's teachings and was known for his patriotic zeal as a student. To
fulfill his parents wishes he went to England in 1919 to compete for Indian Civil
Services. In England he appeared for the Indian Civil Service competitive examination in
1920, and came out fourth in order of merit. However, Subhas Chandra Bose was deeply
disturbed by the Jallianwalla Bagh massacre, and left his Civil Services apprenticeship
midway to return to India in 1921
After returning to India Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose came under the influence of
Mahatma Gandhi and joined the Indian National Congress. On Gandhiji's instructions, he
started working under Deshbandhu Chittaranjan Das, whom he later acknowledged his
political guru. Soon he showed his leadership mettle and gained his way up in the
Congress' hierarchy. In 1928 the Motilal Nehru Committee appointed by the Congress
declared in favour of Domination Status, but Subhas Chandra Bose along with Jawaharlal
Nehru opposed it, and both asserted that they would be satisfied with nothing short of
complete independence for India. Subhas also announced the formation of the
Independence League. Subhas Chandra Bose was jailed during Civil Disobedience
movement in 1930. He was released in 1931 after Gandhi-Irwin pact was signed. He
protested against the Gandhi-Irwin pact and opposed the suspension of Civil
Disobedience movement specially when Bhagat Singh and his associates were hanged.

Subash Chandra Bose was soon arrested again under the infamous Bengal Regulation.
After an year he was released on medical grounds and was banished from India to
Europe. He took steps to establish centres in different European capitals with a view to
promoting politico-cultural contacts between India and Europe. Defying the ban on his
entry to India, Subash Chandra Bose returned to India and was again arrested and jailed
for a year. After the General Elections of 1937, Congress came to power in seven states
and Subash Chandra Bose was released. Shortly afterwards he was elected President of
the Haripura Congress Session in 1938. During his term as Congress President, he talked
of planning in concrete terms, and set up a National planning Committee in October that
year. At the end of his first term, the presidential election to the Tripuri Congress session
took place early 1939. Subhas Chandra Bose was re-elected, defeating Dr. Pattabhi
Sitaramayya who had been backed by Mahatma Gandhi and the Congress Working
Committee. Clouds of World War II were on the horizon and he brought a resolution to
give the British six months to hand India over to the Indians, failing which there would
be a revolt. There was much opposition to his rigid stand, and he resigned from the post
of president and formed a progressive group known as the Forward Block.

Subhas Chandra Bose now started a mass movement against utilizing Indian resources
and men for the great war. There was a tremendous response to his call and he was put
under house arrest in Calcutta. In January 1941, Subhas Chandra Bose disappeared from
his home in Calcutta and reached Germany via Afghanistan. Working on the maxim that
"an enemy's enemy is a friend", he sought cooperation of Germany and Japan against
British Empire. In January 1942, he began his regular broadcasts from Radio Berlin,
which aroused tremendous enthusiasm in India. In July 1943, he arrived in Singapore
from Germany. In Singapore he took over the reins of the Indian Independence
Movement in East Asia from Rash Behari Bose and organised the Azad Hind Fauj
(Indian National Army) comprising mainly of Indian prisoners of war. He was hailed as
Netaji by the Army as well as by the Indian civilian population in East Asia. Azad Hind
Fauj proceeded towards India to liberate it from British rule. Enroute it lliberated
Andeman and Nicobar Islands. The I.N.A. Head quarters was shifted to Rangoon in
January 1944. Azad Hind Fauj crossed the Burma Border, and stood on Indian soil on
March 18 ,1944.
However, defeat of Japan and Germany in the Second World War forced INA to retreat
and it could not achieve its objective. Subhas Chandra Bose was reportedly killed in an
air crash over Taipeh, Taiwan (Formosa) on August 18, 1945. Though it is widely
believed that he was still alive after the air crash not much information could be found
about him.

Born: November 14, 1889

Died: May 27, 1964
Achievements: Took active part in Non-Cooperation Movement; elected President of the
Allahabad Municipal Corporation in 1924, and served for two years as the city's chief
executive; Presided over Congress' annual session in Lahore in 1929 and passed a
resolution demanding India's independence; elected as Congress President in 1936, 1937,
and 1946; became first Prime Minister of independent India; was one of the main
architects of Non Aligned Movement.

Jawaharlal Nehru, also known as Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, was one of the foremost
leaders of Indian freedom struggle. He was the favourite disciple of Mahatma Gandhi and
later on went on to become the first Prime Minister of India. Jawahar Lal Nehru is widely
regarded as the architect of modern India. He was very fond of children and children used
to affectionately call him Chacha Nehru.

Jawahar Lal Nehru was born on November 14, 1889. His father Motilal Nehru was a
famous Allahabad based barrister. Jawaharlal Nehru's mother's name was Swaroop Rani.
Jawaharlal Nehru was the only son of Motilal Nehru. Motilal Nehru has three daughters
apart from Jawaharlal Nehru. Nehrus were Saraswat Brahmin of Kashmiri lineage.
Jawaharlal Nehru received education in some of the finest schools and universities of the
world. He did his schooling from Harrow and completed his Law degree from Trinity
College, Cambridge. The seven years he spent in England widened his horizons and he
acquired a rational and skeptical outlook and sampled Fabian socialism and Irish
nationalism, which added to his own patriotic dedication.

Jawaharlal Nehru returned to India in 1912 and started legal practice. He married Kamala
Nehru in 1916. Jawahar Lal Nehru joined Home Rule League in 1917. His real initiation
into politics came two years later when he came in contact with Mahatma Gandhi in
1919. At that time Mahatma Gandhi had launched a campaign against Rowlatt Act.
Nehru was instantly attracted to Gandhi's commitment for active but peaceful, civil
disobedience. Gandhi himself saw promise and India's future in the young Jawaharlal
Nehru.

Nehru family changed its family according to Mahatma Gandhi's teachings. Jawaharlal
and Motilal Nehru abandoned western clothes and tastes for expensive possessions and
pastimes. They now wore a Khadi Kurta and Gandhi cap. Jawaharlal Nehru took active
part in the Non- Cooperation Movement 1920-1922) and was arrested for the first time
during the movement. He was released after few months.

Jawaharlal Nehru was elected President of the Allahabad Municipal Corporation in 1924,
and served for two years as the city's chief executive. This proved to be a valuable
administrative experience for stood him in good stead later on when he became the prime
minister of the country. He used his tenure to expand public education, health care and
sanitation. He resigned in 1926 citing lack of cooperation from civil servants and
obstruction from British authorities.

From 1926 to 1928, Jawaharlal served as the General Secretary of the All India Congress
Committee. In 1928-29, the Congress's annual session under President Motilal Nehru was
held. During that session Jawaharlal Nehru and Subhas Chandra Bose backed a call for
full political independence, while Motilal Nehru and others wanted dominion status
within the British Empire. To resolve the point, Gandhi said that the British would be
given two years to grant India dominion status. If they did not, the Congress would
launch a national struggle for full, political independence. Nehru and Bose reduced the
time of opportunity to one year. The British did not respond.

In December 1929, Congress's annual session was held in Lahore and Jawaharlal Nehru
was elected as the President of the Congress Party. During that sessions a resolution
demanding India's independence was passed and on January 26, 1930 in Lahore,
Jawaharlal Nehru unfurled free India's flag. Gandhiji gave a call for Civil Disobedience
Movement in 1930. The movement was a great success and forced British Government to
acknowledge the need for major political reforms.

When the British promulgated the Government of India Act 1935, the Congress Party
decided to contest elections. Nehru stayed out of the elections, but campaigned
vigorously nationwide for the party. The Congress formed governments in almost every
province, and won the largest number of seats in the Central Assembly. Nehru was
elected to the Congress presidency in 1936, 1937, and 1946, and came to occupy a
position in the nationalist movement second only to that of Gandhi. Jawaharlal Nehru
was arrested in 1942 during Quit India Movement. Released in 1945, he took a leading
part in the negotiations that culminated in the emergence of the dominions of India and
Pakistan in August 1947.

In 1947, he becamethe first Prime Minister of independent India. He effectively coped

with the formidable challenges of those times: the disorders and mass exodus of
minorities across the new border with Pakistan, the integration of 500-odd princely states
into the Indian Union, the framing of a new constitution, and the establishment of the
political and administrative infrastructure for a parliamentary democracy.

Jawaharlal Nehru played a key role in building modern India. He set up a Planning
Commission, encouraged development of science and technology, and launched three
successive five-year plans. His policies led to a sizable growth in agricultural and
industrial production. Nehru also played a major role in developing independent India's
foreign policy. He called for liquidation of colonialism in Asia and Africa and along with
Tito and Nasser, was one of the chief architects of the nonaligned movement. He played a
constructive, mediatory role in bringing the Korean War to an end and in resolving other
international crises, such as those over the Suez Canal and the Congo, offering India's
services for conciliation and international policing. He contributed behind the scenes
toward the solution of several other explosive issues, such as those of West Berlin,
Austria, and Laos.

But Jawahar Lal Nehru couldn't improve India's relations with Pakistan and China. The
Kashmir issue proved a stumbling block in reaching an accord with Pakistan, and the
border dispute prevented a resolution with China. The Chinese invasion in 1962, which
Nehru failed to anticipate, came as a great blow to him and probably hastened his death.
Jawaharlal Nehru died of a heart attack on May 27, 1964.
Born: July 23,1906
Martyrdom: February 27, 1931
Achievements: Involved in Kakori Train Robbery (1926), the attempt to blow up the
Viceroy's train (1926), and the shooting of Saunders at Lahore (1928) to avenge the
killing of Lala Lajpatrai; formed Hindustan Socialist Republican Association with fellow
compatriots Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, and Rajguru.

Chandrashekhar Azad was a great Indian

freedom fighter. His fierce patriotism and courage inspired others of his generation to
enter freedom struggle. Chandrasekhar Azad was the mentor Bhagat Singh, another great
freedom fighter, and along with Bhagat Singh he is considered as one of the greatest
revolutionaries that India has produced.

Chandra Shekhar Azad was born on July 23,1906 in village Bhavra in Jhabua district of
Madhya Pradesh. His parents were Pandit Sitaram Tiwari and Jagarani Devi. He received
his early schooling in Bhavra. For higher studies he went to the Sanskrit Pathashala at
Varanasi. He was an ardent follower of Hanuman and once disguised himself as a priest
in a hanuman temple to escape the dragnet of British police.

Chandrashekhar Azad was deeply troubled by the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre in Amritsar
in 1919. In 1921, when Mahatma Gandhi launched Non-Cooperation movement,
Chandrasekhar Azad actively participated in revolutionary activities. He received his first
punishment at the age of fifteen. Chandra Shekhar was caught while indulging in
revolutionary activities. When the magistrate asked him his name, he said "Azad"
(meaning free). Chandrashekhar Azad was sentenced to fifteen lashes. With each stroke
of the whip the young Chandrasekhar shouted "Bart Mata Kid Jai". From then on
Chandrashekhar assumed the title of Azad and came to known as Chandrashekhar Azad.
Chandrashekhar Azad vowed that he would never be arrested by the British police and
would die as free man.

After the suspension of non-cooperation movement Chandrashekhar Azad was attracted

towards more aggressive and revolutionary ideals. He committed himself to complete
independence by any means. Chandrashekhar Azad and his compatriots would target
British officials known for their oppressive actions against ordinary people and freedom
fighters. Chandrashekhar Azad was involved in Kakori Train Robbery (1926), the
attempt to blow up the Viceroy's train (1926), and the shooting of Saunders at Lahore
(1928) to avenge the killing of Lala Lajpatrai.

Along with Bhagat Singh and other compatriots like Sukhdev and Rajguru,
Chandrashekhar Azad formed the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HRSA).
HRSA was committed to complete Indian independence and socialist principles for
India's future progress.

Chandrashekhar Azad was a terror for British police. He was on their hit list and the
British police badly wanted to capture him dead or alive. On February 27, 1931
Chandrashekhar Azad met two of his comrades at the Alfred Park Allah bad. He was
betrayed by an informer who had informed the British police. The police surrounded the
park and ordered Chandrashekhar Azad to surrender. Chandrashekhar Azad fought alone
valiantly and killed three policemen. But finding himself surrounded and seeing no route
for escape, Chandrashekhar Azad shot himself. Thus he kept his pledge of not being
caught alive.
Born: July 23, 1856

Died: August 1, 1920

Achievements: Considered as Father of Indian National Movement; Founded “Deccan
Education Society” to impart quality education to India's youth; was a member of the
Municipal Council of Pune, Bombay Legislature, and an elected 'Fellow' of the Bombay
University; formed Home Rule League in 1916 to attain the goal of Swaraj.

Bal Gangadhar Tilak is considered as Father of Indian National Movement. Bal

Gangadhar Tilak was a multifaceted personality. He was a social reformer, freedom
fighter, national leader, and a scholar of Indian history, sanskrit, hinduism, mathematics
and astronomy. Bal Gangadhar Tilak was popularly called as Lokmanya (Beloved of the
people). During freedom struggle, his slogan “Swaraj is my birthright and I shall have it”
inspired millions of Indians.

Bal Gangadhar Tilak was born on July 23, 1856 in Ratnagiri, Maharashtra. He was a
Chitpavan Brahmin by caste. His father Gangadhar Ramachandra Tilak was a Sanskrit
scholar and a famous teacher. Tilak was a brilliant student and he was very good in
mathematics. Since childhood Tilak had an intolerant attitude towards injustice and he
was truthful and straightforward in nature. He was among India's first generation of youth
to receive a modern, college education.

When Tilak was ten his father was transferred to Pune from Ratnagiri. This brought sea
change in Tilak’s life. He joined the Anglo-Vernacular School in Pune and got education
from some of the well known teachers. Soon after coming to Pune Tilak lost his mother
and by the time he was sixteen he lost his father too. While Tilak was studying in
Matriculation he was married to a 10-year-old girl called Satyabhama. After passing the
Matriculation Examination Tilak joined the Deccan College. In 1877, Bal Gangadhar
Tilak got his B.A. degree with a first class in mathematics. He continued his studies and
got the LL.B. degree too.

After graduation, Tilak began teaching mathematics in a private school in Pune and later
became a journalist. He became a strong critic of the Western education system, feeling it
demeaning to Indian students and disrespectful to India's heritage. He came to the
conclusion that good citizens can be moulded only through good education. He believed
that every Indian had to be taught about Indian culture and national ideals. Along with his
classmate Agarkar and great social reformer Vishnushastry Chiplunkar, Bal Gangadhar
Tilak founded “Deccan Education Society” to impart quality education to India's youth.

The very next year after the Deccan Education Society was founded, Tilak started two
weeklies, 'Kesari' and 'Mahratta'. 'Kesari' was Marathi weekly while 'Mahratta' was
English weekly. Soon both the newspapers became very popular. In his newspapers,
Tilak highlighted the plight of Indians. He gave a vivid picture of the people's sufferings
and of actual happenings. Tilak called upon every Indian to fight for his right. Bal
Gangadhar Tilak used fiery language to arouse the sleeping Indians.

Bal Gangadhar Tilak joined the Indian National Congress in 1890. He was a member of
the Municipal Council of Pune, Bombay Legislature, and an elected 'Fellow' of the
Bombay University. Tilak was a great social reformer. He issued a call for the banning of
child marriage and welcomed widow remarriage. Through the celebrations of Ganapati
Festival and the birthday of the Shivaji he organized people.

In 1897, Bal Gangadhar Tilak was charged with writing articles instigating people to rise
against the government and to break the laws and disturb the peace. He was sentenced to
rigorous imprisonment for one and a half year. Tilak was released in 1898. After his
release, Tilak launched Swadeshi Movement. Through newspapers and lectures, Tilak
spread the message to each and every village in Maharashtra. A big 'Swadeshi Market'
was opened in front of Tilak's house. Meanwhile, Congress was split into two camps-
Moderates and Extremists. Extremists led by Bal Gangadhar Tilak opposed the moderate
faction led by Gopal Krishna. Extremists were in the favour of self rule while the
moderates thought that time is not yet ripe for such an eventuality. This rift finally led to
a split in the Congress.

Tilak was arrested on the charges of sedition in 1906. After the trial, Tilak was sentenced
to six years of imprisonment in Mandalay (Burma). Tilak spent his time in prison by
reading and writing. He wrote the book 'Gita-Rahasya' while he was in prison. Tilak was
released on June 8, 1914. After his release, Bal Gangadhar Tilak tried to bring the two
factions of Congress together. But his efforts did not bear much fruit. In 1916, Tilak
decided to build a separate organization called the 'Home Rule League'. Its goal was
swaraj. Tilak went from village to village, and explained the aim of his league to the
farmers and won their hearts. He traveled constantly in order to organize the people.
While fighting for people’s cause Bal Gangadhar Tilak died on August 1, 1920.