In 1872, he passed matriculation examination. For further studies he jointed Deccan college of Poona that had a great reputation for education with famous names on its teaching staff which included Mr. Words- worth, Mr. Khapre and Prof. Shute among others.
But the father’s death had played havoc with the psyche of young Bal Gangadhar. He was not as sharp as before in his studies. As a result he failed in the first year exam of the college.
The friends and the family members tried to console Bal Gangadhar. Bal was thinking on some other lines. He had realised that the college education was a different thing. It required more concentration and interaction with fellow students. He took a decision to leave the domestic environment which was proving a back-draft in his educational progress. He wanted to live in totally academic atmosphere.
So, he moved in to live with one of his close friends, Agarkar.
The new environment proved very educative for Bal Gangadhar. It galvanised him into action education wise and he became a youngman full of energy and verve. He debated with his friends on all political, social and economic matters. He was a fierce debater and expressed his opinions holding back nothing. His outspoken behaviour sometimes hurt others and his friends. It earned him the nickname of ‘Mr. Blunt’.
His friend Agarkar thought on the same lines as Bal Gangadhar. On all the subjects their views were identical. They talked hours on the foreign rule in India, the economic plight of the countrymen all night although they were merely students in the final year of graduation now.
Both were uncertain about what they were going to do after graduation.
Both of them passed the B.A. exams. Bal Gangadhar took admission in M.A. course but he found the course uninteresting.
The friends talked about it. They came to the conclusion that since working for the freedom of the country was their final aim, a law degree would come handy. Somewhere along the line Bal Gangadhar added ‘Tilak’ surname instead of ‘Pant’ as his father used to be known by.
Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Agarkar both joined Deccan college for L.L.B. course.
They pursued the course seriously and continued their dialogue. Agarkar analysed that what the country needed was a massive education programme. Only education could lead to a situation where the Indian society could be free of poverty, ignorance and the foreign rule. There could be no other way. The education he proposed was not of Gurukul type which produced blinkered products with narrow mental horizon.
Bal Gangadhar agreed with Agarkar. The education was to be on the modern lines fit for the new times that could enable Indians to deal with the Englishmen.
That was the period when the Christian Missionaries were very active and doing some pioneering work in the spread of the education in India. The education was very modern which was producing a large number of meaningfully educated people who were inspiring the awakening of the Indian classes. The educated people knew what was needed to uplift the country and its people.
Bal Gangadhar Tilak studied the working of the Christian Missions and the systems of their education. That was the positive aspect of the missions but their real aim was influencing natives and converting them to Christianity.
Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Agarkar came to the conclusion that Indians themselves should set up such educational missions to produce the educated people to lead the people to freedom and prosperity. A society of illiterates could not hope for any progress.
Now Tilak had the mission of his life cut out for him. He would spread the light of the education in India to drive away the darkness of blindfaiths, ignorance, illiteracy and thereby slavery. Education would help people broaden the horizons of their minds which would solve many of the problems the Indians faced due to narrow mindedness. The two friends made plans for their dream.
Meanwhile, Bal Gangadhar Tilak happened to meet a famous educationist named Vishnu Shastri Chiploonkar. He had a vast wealth of experience in the field of education. He liked the idea and the spirit of Tilak and Agarkar. He was willing to guide them in setting up of a model school.
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