Tilak and Azad birth anniversary: Nation pays tributes

dynamitenews.com
New Delhi/ 23 July 2016.  The Nation is paying heartfelt tributes and homage to freedom fighters Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Chandra Shekhar Azad on their birth anniversaries today.

Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak
Tilak was born on 23 July 1856 as Keshav Gangadhar Tilak in Ratnagiri, Maharashtra.  He was the first leader of the Indian Independence Movement. 

A nationalist, teacher, social reformer, lawyer and a freedom fighter, Tilak was conferred with the title of "Lokmanya", which literally means "accepted by the people (as their leader)".

Tilak was one of the first and strongest advocates of the"Swaraj", which means ‘self-rule’. He was a strong radical in Indian consciousness. He is known for his immortal words, "Swarajya is my birthright and I shall have it!".

Tilak had a long political career fighting for freedom from the British rule. Before Gandhi, he was the most widely known Indian political leader. 

Tilak joined the Indian National Congress in 1890. He opposed its moderate attitude, especially towards the fight for self-government. He was one of the most eminent radicals at the time.

This great freedom fighter breathed his last on 1 August 1920.

Chandra Shekhar Azad 
Chandra Shekhar Azad was born on 23 July 1906 as Chandra Shekhar Tiwari in Bhavra village, Madhya Pradesh.  Popularly known as Azad, ‘The Free’, he was a great Indian revolutionary.

Chandra Shekhar reorganised the Hindustan Republican Association under the new name of Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA) after the death of its founder, Ram Prasad Bismil. 

In December 1921, when Mahatma Gandhi launched the Non-Cooperation Movement, Chandra Shekhar, then a 15-year-old student, joined it. As a result, he was arrested. 

On being produced before a magistrate, he gave his name as Azad, his father's name as ‘Swatantrata’, Independent, and his residence as ‘Jail’. From that day he came to be known as Chandra Shekhar Azad.

Azad was involved in the Kakori Train Robbery of 1925, in the attempt to blow up the Viceroy's train in 1926, and at last the shooting of JP Saunders at Lahore in 1928 to avenge the killing of Lala Lajpat Rai.

On February 27, 1931, Azad shot himself dead with his last bullet when he was surrounded by police at Alfred Park in Allahabad.

Prime Minister pays tributes
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has paid tribute to freedom fighters Chandra Shekhar Azad and Bal Gangadhar Tilak on their birth anniversaries.

“The great Bal Gangadhar Tilak inspired several people to devote themselves to the freedom struggle. I bow to him on his birth anniversary,” Modi tweeted.

In another tweet Prime Minister said “I salute the courageous Chandra Shekhar Azad, who won the admiration of countless Indians due to his valour, on his birth anniversary.”