BalGangadhar Tilak
"If 5 sheep eat up all the grass in a meadow in 28 days, how many sheep will eat up the grass in 20 days?"
"Seven sheep, sir," flashed back the answer even before the teacher finished his question.
'Who is it that answered without working out the sum?" Thundered the teacher.
Two or three voices shouted, "Bal, sir."
The teacher went near Bal. He took his note book and glanced through it. Should he not at least take down the problem, let alone work it out?
"Where have you worked the sum?"
Bat, with a mischievous smile, pointed to his head with his index finger.
"You should work the problem in your. book," the teacher said.
'Why? I will do it orally," replied Bat.
Bal's classmates found it difficult to under- stand certain problems even when the teacher did them thrice. But, to Bat mathe- matics was as easy as drinking Water. Sanskrit, of course, was like peeled banana to him!
Bal's father Gangadhar Ramachandra Tilak was a Sanskrit scholar and a famous teacher. Because of his scholarship, he had become'Gangadharpant' to every one.
Bal learnt all the . lessons at home and there was noth ing left to learn at school.
Though Bat was very intelligent, he was not his teachers' favourite because of his mischievousness. From his childhood, he used to form independent views. He took an independent stand always. He was very much different from boys of his age.
Those were the days of his schooling in the primary school at Ratnagiri.
One afternoon the teacher entered the class after the interval and foundgroundnut shells scattered in the classroom. Naturally he grew angry.He took his cane andasked, "Who scattered the groundnut shells like this?"
There was silence. The teacher's anger rose.
"Speak, who ate the groundnuts?" No one confessed. The teacher lost his temper. He decided to punish the entire class. He began to give each boy two cuts with his cane. When Bal's turn came, he did not hold out his hand."I did not eat the ground- nuts. So I will not receive the cuts."
"Then who ate the groundnuts?" "It is said that carrying tales is bad. So I won't tell."
Bal's straightforwardness and truthfulness made the teacher himself uncomfortable.
He became angry, too. He sent him out of the school.And Bal's fatherGangadharpant received a complaint against his son.
Next day, the father brought Bal to the school. He said that what his son had said was true. Bal was not in the habit of eating anything outside his home and he, the father,never gave his son money to buy anything.
Even at that young age it was Tilak's nature to protest against injustice.
He liked stories very much. Soon after his studies, he would run to his grandfather to hear stories from him. His grandfather had lived in Kashi during the days of the 1857
Revolution (the first war of Independence). On hearing the stories about the revolutionaries like Nana Saheb, Tatia Tope and Jhansi Rani, Bal would be thrilled.
Oh! What great men were they who sacrificed their lives for the country! When he grew up he, too, should serve his country like them and free Mother India from salvery this became his heart's desire.
Bal was ten years old whenGangadharpant was transferred to Pune. Coming from Ratnagiri to Pune was a milestone in the life of Bal Tilak.
A new place and new people.
By joining the Anglo-Vernacular School in Pune, young Tilak was able to get good education from well known teachers.
Bal's mother passed away only a few months after coming to Pune. Fasts and strict religious observances had made her weak and thin. She wished for a son, and undertook a strenuous from of the worship of the Sun God for eighteen months. The boy who was born by the grace of the Sun God, was instrumental in making thesunset in the British Empire!
Bal lost his father also six years after his mothers death. Then he was 16 years old.
He was studying in the Matriculation Class. He had been married to a ten-year old girl called Sathyabhama.
Naturally one's responsibility increases after marriage. Now Bal Tilak became 'Bal Gangadhar Tilak'. After passing the Matriculation Examination he joined the Deccan Col lege.
His health was delicate as his mothers. How could he sacrifice his life for the country if his body was weak? So, Tilak decided to' improve his physique even at the cost of his studies during the first year at college.
He used to do physical exercises every day. And his food was regulated but nutritious.
In the course of one year, Tilak was first in all games and sports.He became anexpert swimmer and wrestler. He developed his body so well that all wondered at such radiant health.
In 1877, Tilak got his B.A. degree. It was no wonder that he got first class marks in mathematics. He continued his studies and got the LL.B. degree also.
Tilak, being a double graduate, could easily have got a well-paid job like others, under the British. But, as he had decided when he was young, he dedicated himself to the service of his country.
The concept of Swaraj had yet to blossom in the minds of the people. They had to be made to feel that thirst for independence. Patriotism had to be nurtured. To lay a strong foundation for a new way of life, an educational institution reflecting Indian culture had to be estab lished. EveryIndian had to be taught about Indian culture and national ideals.Good citizens can bemould ed only through good education. Such were the views of ' Bal Gangadhar Tilak.
His classmate Agarkar gave him full support. As Tilak and Agarkar were work- ing out the plans for a system of education which would make students truly useful to the country, another great person, Vishnu- shastry Chiplunkar, joined them.
Chiplunkar, himself a teacher, wished that at least the younger generations should receive the fight type of education.
The people's blind faith that British rule was God's gift to India had to be wiped out.
Tilak, Agarkar and Chiplunkar were. three persons im pelled by the same ideal. They joined hands to create an educational institution to develop moral strength in the pupils.
The educational institution planned and founded by Tilak is like a banyan tree. The little seedling planted by him, has grown into a gigantic tree with many branches, and every branch has meant renewed. life and a new educa tional institution.
The New English School has now grown into the 'Deccan Education Society'. This society now runs the Fergusson College and the Greater Maharashtra Commerce and Economics College in Pune, the Willingdon College in Sangli and the Bombay College in Bombay as well as a number of high schools.
As the New English School started in 1880, progressed, k attracted larger and still larger numbers of pupils. This was a school which reflected out culture and the ideals of our life and was thus our very own. It was also secur ing the best results in the examinations. Teachers Were so preparing their pupils for the examinations as to secure all the scholarships for their school. Tilak and his colleagues toiled not a little for the school. During the first year, neither Tilak nor Chiplunkar drew even a rupee as salary.
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