Speech on the Death Anniversary of Lokmanya Tilak and the Birth Anniversary of Lokshaheer Annabhau Sathe

 *Speech on  the Death Anniversary of Lokmanya Tilak and the Birth Anniversary of Lokshaheer Annabhau Sathe (1st August* 

     Good morning to one and all. Honourable chairperson, respected Principal,my colleagues and my dear students. At first I bow my head before the goddess Saraswati and the images of the great personalities who are before us i. e Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Lokshaheer Annabhau Sathe.

    Why do we celebrate the birth and death anniversaries of great persons? What is the purpose behind these celebrations?Yes, because we celebrate these days to remember them and their work and pay our gratitude towards them and also pay our tribute to them on such days.

  *थोर महात्मे होऊन गेले,

चरित्र त्यांचे पहा जरा,

आपण त्यांच्या समान व्हावे,

हाच सापडे बोध खरा.*

 It means we should learn something good from the biographies of such great souls.We should acquire some qualities from them.This is  the purpose of these celebrations.

 *"Freedom is my birthright and I must gain it."* was the lion's roar of Keshav Gangadhar Tilak who was conferred the title *Lokmanya* by Rabindranath Tagore. Bal was his nick name .He was born on 23rd July 1856 at Chikhali (Chikhalgaon) in Ratnagiri district.He was born and brought up in a good family.He was educated at Deccan college in Pune where he earned bachelor degrees in Mathematics and Sanskrit.In 1879 he obtained LLB  degree.He was an Indian nationalist, teacher and an independence activist.He was one of the third of triumvirate (  त्रीमुर्ती), Lal- Bal - Pal.

  Friends,we all know that our country was ruled by the British.Many freedom fighters shed their blood for the sake of motherland.We can't forget the contribution of Lokmanya Tilak in the freedom struggle.In 1885, *Indian National Congress* was established.There were three periods of Indian National Congress.1)From 1885 to 1905 ,it means from the establishment of Indian National Congress to the partion of Bengal.Moderate period.2)From 1905 to 1920 means from the partition of Bengal  to the death of Tilak. Extreme period or the age of Tilak and 3)From 1920 to 1947 means from the death of Tilak to the Independence.Gandhian period.

From 1905 to 1920 this period is known as Tilak age.He was an extremist.

    Tilak started  celebrating two festivals publically.i.e Ganesh festival and Shiv jayanti.(Birth anniversary of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj).His purpose behind the celebrations of those festivals was that he wanted to bring people together and made them aware of the injustice done by the British.In 1916 he started the Homerule  Movement against the British in collaboration with Smt.Anne Bezant who was an Irish lady.

  Well, we know the proverb *" The Pen is mightier than the  Sword*".It means  the writing with the pen is more powerful weapon than the Sword. Lokmanya Tilak wrote many aggressive articles in the newspapers , named *Kesari* that was in Marathi and *Maratha* was in English. He created the wrath in the minds of Indians through his writings and speeches. That's why he is called *The father of Indian Unrest*. *Swarajya, Swadeshi, Bahishkar (boycott) and Rastiya shikshan*(National education) were a four points formula (चतुसुत्री) of Tilak.By following those  formulas,he fought against the British.Gopal Krishna Gokhale was his Guru.He had been tried for sedition charges and was imprisoned at Mandalay,in Burma which is known as  Myanmar today for 6 years(From 1908 to 1914). He didn't stand still there also.He wrote the book *Gita Rahashy* during his imprisonment that was the criticism on the Hindu's scripture  the *Bhagvad Gita*.He was determined, patriot , good orator, good writer,the national activist and so on. Such versatile person passed way on 1st August 1920.

     *Annabhau Sathe*

 The second image before us is of the folk poet /Lokshaheer Tukaram Bhaurao Sathe , popularly known as *Annabhau Sathe*.

Friends,What a co- incident !.

He was born on the same date of the same year on which Tilak died.It means on 1st August 1920 at Wategaon in Sangali  district.He was a Dalit, born into the untouchable *mang* community .He was a social reformer,poet, novelist and film story writer. *Fakira*  is his famous novel. We can't forget his notable work in Sanyukta Maharashtra Andolan.Such a great person died on 18th July 1969.

    Once again I pay my homage to these two great souls and conclude my speech.

Jay Hind ! Thank you.

🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏