WORKING WITH THE TEXT

1. Here are some facts from Tilak's Life. Arrange them in chronological order.

[a] Tilak joined Indian National Congress.

[b] He lost his father.

[c] He started teaching Mathematics in a private school.

[d] He was arrested on the charges of sedition.

[e] Tilak was born.

[f] He became a journalist.

[g] Tilak's father was transferred to Pune.

[h] Tilak breathed his last.

[i] He was sentenced to imprisonment for one and a half year.

[j] He decided to build an organisation called 'Home Rule League.'

[k] He passed his matriculation.

[l] He organised Deccan Education Society.

Ans : Based on the text, here is the correct timeline of events:

1. [e] Tilak was born (1856).

2. [g] Tilak's father was transferred to Pune.

3. [b] He lost his father.

4. [k] He passed his matriculation (1872).

5. [c] He started teaching Mathematics in a private school.

6. [l] He organised Deccan Education Society (1884/85).

7. [f] He became a journalist.

8. [a] Tilak joined Indian National Congress (1890).

9. [i] He was sentenced to imprisonment for one and a half year (1897).

10. [d] He was arrested on the charges of sedition (1906).

11. [j] He decided to build an organisation called 'Home Rule League' (1916).

12. [h] Tilak breathed his last (1920).

2. Root words :

Make two words each with the given root words:

a. Nation _________ ​_____________

b. True ____________ ​_____________

c. Respect_________ ​_____________

d. Prison _________ ​_____________

e. Final ___________ ​_____________

Ans : Root Words are -

• Nation: National, Nationality

• True: Truth, Truly

• Respect: Respectful, Respective

• Prison: Prisoner, Imprisonment

• Final: Finally, Finalize

3. Given below are some qualities of Bal Gangadhar Tilak. Write a sentence to explain each quality:

a. Brilliant

b. Determined

c. Diligent

d. Patient

e. Judicious

Ans : Qualities of Bal Gangadhar Tilak

• Brilliant: Tilak was a brilliant student who excelled particularly in Mathematics during his time at school and Deccan College.

• Determined: He showed great determination by concluding that "Swaraj is my birthright" and working tirelessly to organize the Home Rule League to achieve it.

• Diligent: His diligence is evident in how he constantly travelled from village to village to organize people and win the hearts of farmers for the national cause.

• Patient: Tilak remained patient and productive even during his six-year long imprisonment in Mandalay, where he spent his time reading and writing the book 'Geeta Rahasya'.

• Judicious: He was a judicious leader who used his newspapers, Kesari and Mahratta, to wisely highlight the plight of Indians and call for necessary social reforms like the banning of child marriage.

COMPREHENSION

4. Answer the following questions:

a. Where was Bal Gangadhar Tilak born ?

Ans : Bal Gangadhar Tilak was born in Ratnagiri, Maharashtra.

b. What kind of a student was Bal Gangadhar?

Ans : He was a brilliant student and was very good at Mathematics.

c. When did Bal Gangadhar Tilak pass the Matriculation Examination?

Ans : He passed the Matriculation Examination in 1872.

d. How, according to Tilak, can good citizens be moulded ?

Ans  :  According to Tilak, good citizens can be moulded through good education that teaches Indian culture and national ideals.

e. Who organised the Deccan Education Society?

Ans : Tilak organised the Deccan Education Society along with a few of his classmates.

f. Why was it set up?

Ans : It was set up to improve the quality of education for India's youth and emphasize nationalist ideas.

g. Who established Fergusson College and when?

Ans : The Deccan Education Society established Fergusson College in 1885.

h. Name two weeklies started by Bal Gangadhar Tilak.

Ans : The two weeklies were "Kesari" (Marathi) and "Mahratta" (English).

i. When did Tilak join the Indian National Congress?

Ans : He joined the Indian National Congress in 1890.

j. When did the British colonial authorities call Tilak "Father of the Indian unrest"?

Ans :  They called him this because he was the first leader of the Indian independence movement and a strong critic of British rule.

k. How did Tilak spend his time in prison in Mandalay?

Ans : He spent his time reading and writing; he wrote the book 'Geeta Rahasya' there.

l. What does the word 'Lokamanya' mean?

Ans : The word 'Lokamanya' means "accepted by the people as their leader".

m. When did Tilak breathe his last?

Ans : Tilak breathed his last on August 1, 1920.

5. Answer the following question (75-100 words):

a. Narrate what Tilak did to improve the quality of education for the youth of India.

Ans : Bal Gangadhar Tilak believed that good citizens could only be moulded through a strong education system that emphasized Indian culture and national ideals. To achieve this, he organized the Deccan Education Society with his classmates to improve the quality of education for India's youth. The society created a new system to teach young Indians nationalist ideas. Under this society, the New English School was established for secondary education, and Fergusson College was founded in 1885 for post-secondary studies. Tilak also used his newspapers, Kesari and Mahratta, to educate the masses and arouse a sense of duty and national pride among all Indians.

b. Give a brief account of Tilak's contribution towards India's independent movement. 

Ans : Bal Gangadhar Tilak was the first leader of the Indian independence movement and was famously called the "Father of Indian unrest" by British authorities. He was a strong advocate of Swaraj (Self-rule), declaring, "Swaraj is my birthright and I shall have it". Tilak used his newspapers, Kesari and Mahratta, to arouse national passion and highlight the people's sufferings. He launched the Swadeshi Movement, formed the Lal-Bal-Pal triumvirate, and later established the Home Rule League in 1916 to organize farmers and common people against colonial rule.

GRAMMAR AND USAGE

6. Match these words to make compound words:

Ans :