Pune: Reacting to the incident where freedom fighter and prominent activist Bal Gangadhar Tilak, also known as Lokmanya Tilak, was mentioned as the ‘father of terrorism’ in a Class VIII book, Pune Mayor Mukta Tilak said that it was an insult to the freedom fighters who laid down their lives for the country. Mukta, who is the wife of Lokmanya Tilak’s great-grandson Shailesh Tilak, told ANI, “Lokmanya Tilak served the country for so long. He gave 50 years of his life to India. Even after doing so much, he is being portrayed as the father of the terrorism in a children’s book. This is shameful and an insult to our freedom fighters. I request all citizens to ban this book.”
She added that she would personally write a letter to Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje regarding the incident. Mukta further said that the culprits found guilty of publishing the book should be caught and strict action should be taken against them. A reference book for Class VIII Social Studies has described freedom fighter Bal Gangadhar Tilak as the ‘father of terrorism.’ The book by a Mathura-based publisher is being used by private English-medium schools affiliated to the Rajasthan Board of Secondary Education (RBSE).
