Bal Gangadhar Tilak is often called the Father of the Indian Unrest, given the active role he played in the Indian freedom struggle as a teacher, lawyer, and activist. He took forward the concept of Swarajya, or 'self-rule'. The title 'Lokmanya' was conferred upon him later, and it means 'accepted by the people'. He is often credited for popularising of the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Maharashtra. In 1881, Tilak founded Kesari, a Marathi newspaper, which became the voice for the freedom struggle. He also ran Maharatta, an English newspaper, and both papers are alive today.
The Lokmanya Tilak Museum, located in Kesari Wada, Narayan Peth, was inaugurated in January 1999 by Mrs Sonia Gandhi. The Wada earlier belonged to Sayajirao Gaikwad, and hence it was known as Gaikwad Wada. When Tilak purchased it to begin work on Kesari, his first newspaper, it began to be known as Kesari Wada. The museum was conceived, and is managed, jointly by The Kesari Maharatta Trust and the Tilak Family. It shares space with the Kesari-Maratha Library, The Lokmanya Sabhagriha (Auditorium), and a couple of offices managed by the Trust. On display in the museum are: the first printing press for Kesari, various events from Tilak’s life, his genealogical table, personal belongings, an early design for the flag of India, and an iconic replica of Tilak himself from when he was locked up at the Mandalay Jail. Another replica has him sitting in his study and writing. The personal memorabilia include important papers, letters, and other artefacts such as his clothes, headgear, glasses, and so on.
18.515801, 73.848907
The entrance of the museum has a large portrait of Tilak. On the left side hang pictures from Tilak's life as well as his family photos. In the glass cases below the photographs are letters and scraps of paper that belonged to Tilak.
The right side of the entrance introduces the visitor to the various members of the Tilak family. More artefacts are encased under the photos, with old books stuffed in the brown cabinets.
This is a recreation of Lokmanya Tilak's room. His bed, shelves, chair, and desk were preserved and donated to the museum by his family.
A recreation of Tilak in Mandalay has been installed in the wall in the far right corner of the museum.
Tilak wrote letters to his contemporaries from jail, which have been showcased here.
Placed at the entrance of the museum, this is the first printing press of Kesari that Tilak imported from London.
The museum is located in the same area as the Kesari newspaper offices. The museum stocks Kesari every day.
This is the initial flag of India unfurled by Madam Cama in England. It bears the words 'Vande Mataram' and includes symbols of Hindu and Muslim faith.
Tilak was well-known in the freedom struggle fraternity. Photographs from the meetings of the Indian National Congress and other events from Tilak's life have been showcased here.
These are from 1881, when Tilak first started Kesari newspaper, which is still in print today.