Journalism

Bal Gangadhar Tilak had started two magazines in Marathi and English named ‘Maratha’ and ‘Kesari’ respectively with the help of his old friends. Later, he could not devote enough time to them due to his involvement in Deccan Education Society and the New English School project although he kept writing articles for the two magazines. The articles written by him used to be the main attractions of the periodicals.
He was an impressive writer. His language was polished and the subject contents very erudite.
After disassociating himself from the Deccan Education Society, Bal Gangadhar Tilak devoted his full time to the magazines in a professional manner. Through his magazines he continued to campaign for education. He called upon armies of dedicated youth to work like missionaries all over the country to awaken the masses to the importance of education. To his chagrin Tilak found that finding selfless volunteers was no easy task. Selfishness prevailed in the society.
Once Tilak had the opportunity to meet the famed Swami Vivekananda in a train to Poona. Later, he stayed at Tilak’s Poona home for a few days. He also revealed to Tilak that finding dedicated and selfless workers in India was an impossibility.
Infact, Hindustanis were good only at shirking work and quarrelling among themselves. Tilak had the taste of that quarrelsome nature of his countrymen in Deccan Education Society.
During those ten years he had not been able to give enough time to the family.
He only paid hurried visits to his home. The family never got quality time from him. Some children born to Tapi were the only testimonials of his flying visits. Tapi was now better known as Satyabhama, her christened name. She had grown into a plump respectable figure. Her stout shoulders carried the entire burden of running the family. She soldiered on without any complaints.
Learning to read and write was now a luxury. The household matters took her entire time. She had even forgotten whatever little she had learnt during those early years.