Shridhar Balwant Tilak | |
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Born | 1896 |
Died | 25 May 1928 |
Movement | Non-brahman movement, Samata Sainik Dal |
Children |
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Parents |
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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 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]
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.
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]
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]