Abstract

Bal Gangadhar Tilak stands as one of the most influential architects of nationalist consciousness in modern India. His philosophical interpretation of nationalism combined with his profound impact on the political awakening of the masses reshaped the contours of Indian identity during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Tilak’s approach was rooted in cultural revivalism moral regeneration assertive political action and the conviction that national identity rests not merely on territorial existence but on shared historical memory ethical values and collective self-respect. This research paper examines Tilak’s role in shaping Indian nationalism through a philosophical lens exploring how his ideas on swaraj cultural resurgence and political mobilisation contributed to the emergence of a distinct Indian identity. The study traces the evolution of Tilak’s nationalist thought analyses his methods of awakening mass consciousness and evaluates their long-term influence on India’