Who among the following made Ganesh Chaturthi popular as a public celebration in Maharashtra?

Correct option is A

The correct answer is (a) Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak.
· Bal Gangadhar Tilak (1856–1920) was a prominent Indian nationalist, teacher, social reformer, and independence activist.
· He was one of the first leaders of the Indian Independence Movement.
· Tilak was famously called "Lokmanya," meaning "accepted by the people as their leader."
· Tilak transformed Ganesh Chaturthi from a private household festival into a grand public event in 1893.
· He aimed to unite people against British rule by fostering a sense of community and national pride.
· The public celebrations helped mobilize masses and spread the nationalist message, making it a significant cultural and political movement in Maharashtra.
Facts to remember:
· Vinayak Damodar Savarkar (1883–1966), commonly known as Veer Savarkar, was an Indian independence activist, lawyer, politician, poet, and writer.
· He was a key figure in the Hindu nationalist movement and is known for his book "The First War of Indian Independence," which portrayed the 1857 uprising as a unified national revolt against British rule.
· Lala Lajpat Rai (1865–1928) was a prominent nationalist leader, freedom fighter, and social reformer.
· Known as the "Lion of Punjab," he was part of the Lal-Bal-Pal trio (along with Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Bipin Chandra Pal) that advocated for the Swadeshi movement and Swaraj (self-rule).
· Rai played a crucial role in the establishment of institutions like the Punjab National Bank and the DAV College.