This book is a biography of Bal Gangadhar Tilak (1856-1920), a nationalist, teacher, social reformer and independence fighter who was the first popular leader of the Indian Independence Movement. The British colonial authorities infamously and derogatorily called the great leader as “Father of the Indian unrest”. He was also conferred upon the honorary title of Lokmanya, which literally means “Revered by the people (as their leader)”. Tilak was one of the first and strongest advocates of “Swaraj” (self-rule) in Indian consciousness. His famous quote, “Swaraj is my birthright, and I shall have it !” is well-remembered in India even today.
He was a great scholar who authored many books on Gita and Vedas. In Gita Rahasya, his commentary on Srimad Bhagavad Gita, he established that Karma Yoga or the Yoga of selfless action is the main teaching of the Gita.