Who raised the following slogan - "Swaraj is my birthright and I shall have it!" ?

The correct answer is Bal Gangadhar Tilak.

Key Points

• Bal Gangadhar Tilak was an Indian nationalist, teacher, and an independence activist.
• He is often referred to as "Lokmanya," which means "accepted by the people (as their leader)."
• The slogan "Swaraj is my birthright and I shall have it!" was first raised by Tilak in 1916.
• Tilak played a pivotal role in the Indian independence movement and was a strong advocate for self-rule.

Additional Information

• Swaraj
  • Swaraj literally means "self-rule" or "self-governance."
  • It became a key concept in the Indian freedom struggle, emphasizing the right of Indians to govern themselves independently of British rule.
  • Mahatma Gandhi also popularized the term in the context of broader self-reliance and self-discipline.
• Indian National Congress
  • The Indian National Congress (INC) was founded in 1885 and played a crucial role in the struggle for Indian independence.
  • Bal Gangadhar Tilak was a prominent member of the INC and led the extremist faction that advocated for more radical approaches to achieving independence.
• Home Rule Movement
  • Tilak and Annie Besant launched the Home Rule Movement in 1916 to demand self-governance and greater political rights for Indians.
  • The movement aimed to build political pressure on the British government to grant self-rule to India.
• Bal Gangadhar Tilak's Contributions
  • He founded and edited two newspapers, "Kesari" in Marathi and "The Mahratta" in English, to promote nationalist ideas.
  • Tilak also authored several influential books, including "Gita Rahasya," which interpreted the Bhagavad Gita from a nationalist perspective.
  • He was instrumental in organizing the Ganesh Utsav and Shivaji Utsav to inspire mass participation in the nationalist movement.