Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak is a towering figure in the Indian nationalist movement, a multifaceted personality whose contributions span politics, journalism, education and social reform. ‘Kesari: Selected Essays’ is a testament to his intellectual depth and vision for India’s transformation. This collection highlights his lesser-known contributions, particularly in education and social reform, offering a nuanced perspective on his broader intellectual legacy.

Unlike his well-documented political writings on Swaraj, these essays emphasise lokshikshan — education of the masses, central to his journalistic and educational mission. By the late 19th century, the nationalist movement was shifting from moderate petitions to direct action, with Tilak at the forefront. His newspapers, Kesari (Marathi) and Mahratta (English), became powerful anti-colonial tools. The 1897 assassination of WC Rand allowed the British to clamp down on nationalist voices, leading to Tilak’s imprisonment for sedition based on his interpretation of the concept of righteous action from ‘Bhagvadagita’. Despite political upheavals, Tilak remained committed to education. He co-founded the Poona New English School (1880) and Ferguson College (1885) under the Deccan Education Society to provide quality, indigenous education. Eleven of the book’s 45 essays focus on education.

In ‘What First? Political or Social?’, he critiques the colonial argument that social reform must precede political rights, asserting that autonomy is a prerequisite for meaningful social change — an insight aligning with Antonio Gramsci’s theories on cultural hegemony. He believed that political independence was not just a goal but a means to achieving social and economic justice.

In ‘The One-Sidedness of the English Educated’, he laments the alienation of western-educated Indians from the masses, echoing Paulo Freire’s ‘Pedagogy of the Oppressed’. He envisions universities as centres of critical inquiry rather than colonial bureaucratic factories, a view akin to Wilhelm von Humboldt’s research university model. His essay ‘Universities Alias Government Porter Houses’ condemns colonial education’s focus on administrative convenience over true learning, foreshadowing ideas later championed by Gandhi and Tagore. Tilak was all for a curriculum that blended scientific inquiry with indigenous knowledge, ensuring that education was both practically useful and culturally rooted.

His thoughts on education extended beyond academic institutions to the broader concept of national awakening. He argued that education should not merely produce government employees but should equip individuals with critical thinking skills and a strong national identity. This aligns with later educational reform movements that sought to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and real-world application. Tilak’s focus on vernacular education was particularly significant, as he recognised that learning in native language was essential for true intellectual and cultural empowerment.

Tilak’s essays on agrarian distress expose the systemic impoverishment of peasants through heavy taxation and exploitative land policies. His critique of colonial economic structures anticipated later discussions on rural development and social justice, making his observations relevant even today. His advocacy for indigenous industry foreshadowed the Swadeshi movement, emphasising that economic strength was an essential pillar of national sovereignty.

Meanwhile, his ‘Gita Rahasya’, written in a Mandalay prison, offers a pragmatic interpretation of the ‘Bhagvadagita’, emphasising action and duty over renunciation. This influenced revolutionaries like Bhagat Singh, who sought the book in jail, and aligns with existentialist themes of responsibility found in Sartre’s work.

Tilak’s legacy as a journalist, educator and revolutionary is encapsulated in ‘Kesari’. The collection provides historical insight and timeless reflections on education, justice and self-determination. The translators deserve praise for their lucid rendering of his Marathi prose, preserving its force and elegance.

The historical context of his writings also underscores their significance. At a time when colonial rule sought to suppress indigenous voices, Tilak’s essays served as powerful instruments of resistance. The balance between philosophical inquiry and practical action ensured that his ideas were not only theoretical, but also implementable.

More than a historical document, this book is a philosophical and political treatise resonating with contemporary debates on education, social reform and national identity.

— The writer is a publisher