Freedom Struggle
Maharashtra GK · स्वतंत्रता संग्राम · 18 facts
Bal Gangadhar Tilak (1856-1920): Born Ratnagiri, Maharashtra; declared 'Swaraj is my birthright' in 1907 at Surat
Tilak revived Ganesh Chaturthi as a public festival in 1893 to unite Indians against British rule
Tilak founded Home Rule League in 1916 at Pune to demand self-governance within British Empire
Kesari and Mahratta newspapers: Founded by Tilak in 1881 to spread nationalist ideas in Marathi and English
Gopal Krishna Gokhale (1866-1915): Moderate Congress leader from Pune; founded Servants of India Society 1905
Gokhale was Mahatma Gandhi's political mentor; Gandhi credited him as his 'political guru'
Vinayak Damodar Savarkar (1883-1966): Hindutva ideologue; spent 10 years at Cellular Jail (Kala Pani), Andaman
Dr. B.R. Ambedkar (1891-1956): Born Mhow (MP); spent career in Maharashtra; architect of Indian Constitution
Ambedkar led Mahad Satyagraha (1927): Untouchables' right to access public water tank at Mahad, Raigad
Mahatma Jyotirao Phule (1827-1890): Social reformer from Pune; founded Satyashodhak Samaj in 1873 against caste system
Savitribai Phule (1831-1897): India's first woman teacher; opened first girls' school in Pune in 1848 with husband Jyotirao
Indian National Congress founded at Bombay (Mumbai) in 1885 by A.O. Hume; first session chaired by W.C. Bonnerjee
Quit India Movement (1942): Mahatma Gandhi launched 'Do or Die' call at Gowalia Tank, Mumbai on 8 August 1942
Aruna Asaf Ali hoisted Congress flag at Gowalia Tank, Mumbai on 9 August 1942 defying British ban
Naval Mutiny (1946): Indian Naval ratings in Bombay revolted against British rule; supported by all major political parties
Deccan Riots (1875): Peasant uprising in Pune and Ahmednagar against exploitative Marwari and Gujarati moneylenders
Maharashtra was formed on 1 May 1960 (Maharashtra Day): Split from bilingual Bombay State on linguistic basis
Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar converted to Buddhism at Nagpur on 14 October 1956; over 5 lakh followers joined him