PM Modi pays tribute to two freedom fighters on their birth anniversary

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to Twitter to pay tributes to freedom fighters Lokmanya Tilak and Chandra Shekhar Azad on their birth anniversary.

He wrote: "I bow to two great sons of Maa Bharti, Lokmanya Tilak and Chandra Shekhar Azad on their birth anniversary. These two stalwarts epitomise courage and patriotism."

Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak was born in 1856 and Chandra Shekhar Azad in 1906.

Azad was only 15 years old when he joined the Non-Cooperation Movement. He is known for the slogan: "We will face the bullets of enemies. We were free and we will remain free". The young revolutionary died in 1931 during a shootout with police. Anticipating his arrest, he shot himself in order to stay true to his motto of always staying Azad (free). He was 24 years old at the time.

Recounting what he said about them on Mann Ki Baat a few years ago, PM Modi shared the video in which he is heard saying that many great persons dedicated their lives to the nation. "One such personality was Lokmanya Tilak who left indelible marks in the hearts of Indians."

He noted that Tilak was brave and full of confidence. Tilak was known for promoting Swaraj (self-rule) as part of the freedom struggle against the British regime. He also wrote against the colonisers on two weeklies 'Kesari' and 'Mahratta'.

Speaking about the time he visited the Lokmanya Seva Sangh in Mumbai, the PM said one of the everlasting legacies of Lokmanya Tilak is the large-scale Ganesh Utsav, which ignited a spirit of cultural consciousness among the people.

"During one of my Mumbai visits, I visited the Lokmanya Seva Sangh, which has a close association with Lokmanya Tilak," said the Prime Minister.