Shridhar Balwant Tilak

Shridhar Balwant Tilak (1896-1928) also known as Shridharpant was a social activist and Marathi writer from Pune. He was the youngest son of Bal Gangadhar Tilak.

Shridhar Balwant Tilak
Born1896
Died25 May 1928
Pune, India
MovementNon-brahman movement, Samata Sainik Dal
Children
Parents

Early life and family

Shridhar Balwant Tilak is the third son of Indian independence activist Bal Gangadhar Tilak.[1][2][3][4][5][6] Sridhar had two sons; Shrikant,[7][8] and Jayant Tilak. Jayant was a politician from Indian National Congress and served as a member of the Rajya Sabha, the upper chamber of the Indian Parliament.[9]

Activism and career

Fight against casteism

Shridhar Tilak campaigned for removal of untouchability in 1920's with national leader Dr. Ambedkar.[10][11] He was inspired by his philosophy and social reforms and communicated and discuss with him in methods to get rid of upper-cast hegemony.[12] He was also against child marriages and tonsuring of widows. His works were also supported by another social reformer Prabodhankar Thackeray.[12]

On 8 April 1928 in Pune,[13] he established a branch of the multi-cast Samaaj Samata Sang (now known as Samata Sainik Dal) a social organization founded by Dr. Ambedkar.[14] Keshavrao Jedhe who was a friend of Shridar Tilak from Pune was a freedom fighter who was also member of this organization.[13] On 10 May 1928 he organized a community dinner (sahabhojan) at Gaekwad Wada, in Pune, for people from various casts and religions.[12] Dr. Ambedkar himself attended that dinner.

Writing

Shridhar Tilak published several articles in Marathi magazines like Jnanprakash and Vividhavritta. His collection of articles were published in a book titled Maza Vyasang.[8]

Death

Given his liberal and rational thoughts, Shridhar Tilak was subjected to a lot of harassment by conservatives in Maharashtra region of that period.[13][15] Unable to tolerate it, he committed suicide on 25 May 1928.[13] Before that he sent three suicide notes: one to the collector of Pune, another to newspapers and a third one to Dr. Ambedkar.[12][16][17] Later Dr. Ambedkar wrote – “If anyone who is worthy of the title Lokamanya, it is Shridharpant Tilak.”[15][18][19]

References
  1. "Caste Matters author Suraj Yengde: 'There's a new class of global Brahmin of each society'". Firstpost. 2019-09-02. Retrieved 2021-06-12.
  2. "Bal Gangadhar Tilak Biography". VEDANTU. Retrieved 2021-06-12.
  3. National Herald: Why caste discrimination and atrocities still persist despite laws?, retrieved 2021-06-12
  4. Sukhdeo Thorat (2017). “Why Untouchability, Caste Discrimination and Atrocities still persists despite Law? Reflections on Causes for Persistence and Solutions”. 9th Dr. Asghar Ali Engineer Memorial Lecture. Centre for Study of Society and Secularism. https://csss-isla.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Why-Untouchability-and-Atrocities-Persists-Despite-Laws-by-Prof.-Sukhadeo-Thorart.pdf
  5. "Tilak High School". tilakhighfiji.com. Retrieved 2021-08-01.
  6. "Bal Gangadhar Tilak - Life history and political journey | Freedom Fighter". Aptinfo.in. 2020-01-31. Retrieved 2021-08-01.
  7. "Shrikant Shridhar Tilak". geni_family_tree. Retrieved 2021-06-13.
  8. DHANANJAY KEER. LOKMANYA TILAK - FATHER OF OUR FREEDOM STRUGGLE - ENGLISH.
  9. "Shridhar Balwant Tilak". geni_family_tree. Retrieved 2021-06-12.
  10. "Pune's endless identity wars". archive.indianexpress.com. Retrieved 2021-06-12.
  11. "श्रीधर बळवंत टिळक मराठी लेखक, आणि सामाजिक कार्यकर्ते होते. ते लोकमान्य बाळ गंगाधर टिळकांचे धाकटे पुत्र होते. श्रीधरपंतांचा जन्म १८९६ साली झाला असावा, असे अनुमान". mr.freejournal.org (in Marathi). Retrieved 2021-08-03.
  12. "Taste of life: How this community dinner gave orthodox Maharashtra a wake-up call". Hindustan Times. 2021-04-15. Retrieved 2021-06-12.
  13. Nalawade, V. N. (1984). "Keshavrao Jedhe a non-Brahman nationalist political leader". Dissertation of Master of Philosophy in History, Shivaji University, Kolhapur.
  14. "About". Samata Sainik Dal. Retrieved 2021-06-12.
  15. सुमित, Sumit (2017-07-13). "Ambedkar: A jurist with no equals". Forward Press. Retrieved 2021-06-12.
  16. "श्रीधरपंतांनी आत्महत्या का केली?". Maharashtra Times (in Marathi). Retrieved 2021-06-12.
  17. "मुसलमानों का सब्ज़ी-फल तो नहीं, पर खून चलेगा? – तीसरी जंग न्यूज़". teesrijungnews.com. Retrieved 2021-08-03.
  18. veerites (2017-05-16). "Shridharpant is real Lokmanya: Translation". veerites. Retrieved 2021-06-12.
  19. "आंबेडकर म्हणाले ,"श्रीधर टिळक हाच खरा लोकमान्य"". BolBhidu.com. 2018-12-13. Retrieved 2021-08-03.
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