Shridhar Balwant Tilak

Shridhar Balwant Tilak (1896-1928) also known as Shridharpant was a social activist and Marathi writer from Pune. He was the youngest son of Bal Gangadhar Tilak.

Shridhar Balwant Tilak is the third son of Indian independence activist Bal Gangadhar Tilak.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]} Sridhar had two sons; Shrikant,^[7][8] and Jayant Tilak. Jayant was a politician from Indian National Congress and served as a member of the Rajya Sabha, the upper chamber of the Indian Parliament.^[9]

Shridhar Tilak campaigned for removal of untouchability in 1920's with national leader Dr. Ambedkar.^[10][11] He was inspired by his philosophy and social reforms and communicated and discuss with him in methods to get rid of upper-cast hegemony.^[12] He was also against child marriages and tonsuring of widows. His works were also supported by another social reformer Prabodhankar Thackeray.^[12]

On 8 April 1928 in Pune,^[13] he established a branch of the multi-cast Samaaj Samata Sang (now known as Samata Sainik Dal) a social organization founded by Dr. Ambedkar.^[14] Keshavrao Jedhe who was a friend of Shridar Tilak from Pune was a freedom fighter who was also member of this organization.^[13] On 10 May 1928 he organized a community dinner (sahabhojan) at Gaekwad Wada, in Pune, for people from various casts and religions.^[12] Dr. Ambedkar himself attended that dinner.

Shridhar Tilak published several articles in Marathi magazines like Jnanprakash and Vividhavritta. His collection of articles were published in a book titled Maza Vyasang.^[8]

Given his liberal and rational thoughts, Shridhar Tilak was subjected to a lot of harassment by conservatives in Maharashtra region of that period.^[13][15] Unable to tolerate it, he committed suicide on 25 May 1928.^[13] Before that he sent three suicide notes: one to the collector of Pune, another to newspapers and a third one to Dr. Ambedkar.^[12][16][17] Later Dr. Ambedkar wrote – "If anyone who is worthy of the title Lokamanya, it is Shridharpant Tilak."^[15][18][19]