| Tilak availed much popularity in Europe and America by his
books Oryan and Arctic Home in the Vedas. Max Muller, a great German scholar
and Indologist was highly impressed with the eminent scholarship of Tilak.
When plague broke out in Poona, Tilak devoted himself wholeheartedly to
the service of the victims. Tilak was called the ‘father of political
unrest’ in India, but he held the repressive policy of the Britishers
responsible for it. In 1908, Tilak faced a trial on the charge of sedition.
The historic speech which Tilak made in his defence lasted for four days
and 24 minutes. In 1916, together with Annie Besant he launched the Home
Rule League Movement, but withdrew it on getting favourable assurance from
the British government. He died at the age of 64. |