CM Bhajan Lal Sharma pays tribute to Bal Gangadhar Tilak on death anniversary
Synopsis
Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma honoured Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak on his death anniversary, invoking the iconic 'Swaraj is my birthright' declaration and calling Tilak an enduring source of inspiration for patriotism and public awakening.
Key Takeaways
Rajasthan CM Bhajan Lal Sharma paid tribute to Bal Gangadhar Tilak on his death anniversary, 1 August 2026 .
Sharma described Tilak as a 'fervent proclaimer of Swaraj, great freedom fighter, nationalist thinker and social reformer.' Tilak's famous declaration — 'Swaraj is my birthright and I shall have it' — was cited as an immortal mantra that awakened the spirit of freedom.
Bal Gangadhar Tilak died on 1 August 1920 ; he is remembered as Lokmanya , meaning 'accepted by the people.' Annual tributes to Tilak on his punyatithi are a cross-party tradition in Indian politics.
A freedom fighter's immortal cry — 'Swaraj mera janmasiddh adhikar hai' ('Swaraj is my birthright and I shall have it') — echoed once again across India's political landscape on Saturday, 1 August 2026, as Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma paid homage to Bal Gangadhar Tilak on his death anniversary.
Sharma's post described Tilak as a 'fervent proclaimer of Swaraj, a great freedom fighter, a sharp nationalist thinker and social reformer,' offering him shat-shat naman — a hundred salutations. He wrote that Tilak's immortal mantra awakened the consciousness of freedom among the people of the country, and that his unforgettable contributions to patriotism, self-respect, and public awakening 'will forever remain a source of inspiration.'
The man behind the mantra
Bal Gangadhar Tilak, widely known as Lokmanya — 'accepted by the people' — was one of the earliest and most radical voices in India's independence movement. Born in 1856, he rose to prominence through his newspapers and Congress activism, arguing that freedom could not be begged for but had to be claimed. His declaration — 'Swaraj is my birthright and I shall have it' — became a rallying cry that shifted the independence movement from petition to assertion. He died on 1 August 1920, a date now observed annually as his punyatithi (death anniversary).A ritual of remembrance across party lines
Tilak's death anniversary draws tributes from political figures across India's ideological spectrum every year — a rare point of convergence in a fractured political landscape. For the BJP, invoking Tilak carries particular resonance: his nationalism, his emphasis on cultural pride, and his mass-mobilisation through festivals like Ganesh Chaturthi align with themes the party regularly foregrounds. Sharma's tribute follows this established pattern, placing the Chief Minister within a lineage of leaders who claim Tilak's legacy as both moral and political inheritance. Tilak's vision of Swaraj — self-rule rooted in self-respect — remains as legible today as it was a century ago. That a sitting Chief Minister pauses to name it on a summer morning is its own quiet testament.Point of View
Nationalism, and self-respect in a single breath reflects the BJP's consistent effort to anchor its ideological identity in the pre-Gandhian, assertive strand of the freedom movement. Tilak's legacy is contested historical terrain: his mass-mobilisation methods and cultural nationalism make him a figure both the left and right claim selectively. For a sitting Chief Minister, the choice of emphasis — 'self-respect' and 'public awakening' over, say, constitutional reform — signals which thread of that legacy the party wishes to pull. These anniversary statements, taken together across years and leaders, form a quiet but cumulative political narrative about who owns India's freedom story.
NationPress
1 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
When did Bal Gangadhar Tilak die?
Bal Gangadhar Tilak died on 1 August 1920 . His death anniversary is observed annually as his punyatithi and draws tributes from political leaders across India.
What is the famous slogan of Bal Gangadhar Tilak?
Tilak's most famous declaration is 'Swaraj is my birthright and I shall have it' ( Swaraj mera janmasiddh adhikar hai aur main use lekar rahunga ). It became a defining rallying cry of India's early independence movement.
Why is Bal Gangadhar Tilak called Lokmanya?
The title Lokmanya means 'accepted by the people' or 'respected by the masses.' It was conferred on Tilak in recognition of his extraordinary popular appeal and his role in mobilising ordinary Indians for the freedom struggle.
What did Rajasthan CM Bhajan Lal Sharma say about Tilak?
CM Bhajan Lal Sharma described Tilak as a fervent proclaimer of Swaraj, a great freedom fighter, a sharp nationalist thinker, and a social reformer. He said Tilak's contributions to patriotism, self-respect, and public awakening will forever remain a source of inspiration.
Which party does Rajasthan CM Bhajan Lal Sharma belong to?
Bhajan Lal Sharma is a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and has served as Chief Minister of Rajasthan since December 2023.
