Dr Tilak, had been unwell due to age-related ailments and breathed his last at his residence. He made significant contributions to both journalism and education, carrying forward the rich legacy of the Tilak family
Dr Deepak Tilak, the great-grandson of Lokmanya Tilak
Noted educationist and great-grandson of Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Dr Deepak Jayant Tilak, passed away in Pune in the early hours of Wednesday. He was 78. The editor-trustee of the historic daily Kesari, Dr Tilak, had been unwell due to age-related ailments and breathed his last at his residence. He made significant contributions to both journalism and education, carrying forward the rich legacy of the Tilak family.
He is survived by his son, Congress leader Rohit Tilak, a daughter, and grandchildren. His body was kept at Kesariwada from 8 am to 11 am for the public to pay their last respects before cremation at Vaikunth Smashan Bhumi. Dr Tilak was honoured with the Japanese Government’s Foreign Minister’s Commendation for his contribution to Japanese language studies. He was also the editor and trustee of the Tilak Smarak Trust.
He completed his PhD on the challenges of newspaper management, with a special focus on Marathi newspapers. A judo enthusiast, he also served as secretary of the Poona Judo Association. Born into a family deeply rooted in public service, Dr Tilak was the son of late Jayant Tilak, known for his role in the Goa Liberation Struggle and the Samyukta Maharashtra Movement, and Indutai Tilak, a renowned social worker and educational reformer associated with institutions like Seva Sadan and Huzurpaga.
Dr Tilak earned his PhD in Management Studies from the University of Pune and served as Vice-Chancellor of Tilak Maharashtra Vidyapeeth from 1996 to 2004. He was also a member of several academic bodies, including the Governing Council of the Association of Indian Universities (2010–2012). In the field of journalism, he served as editor and Trustee of Kesari, the nationalist newspaper founded by Lokmanya Tilak in 1881. He authored a dissertation on the problems of newspaper management, focusing on Marathi journalism.
As chief trustee of the Kesari-Maratha Trust and a leading member of the Tilak Smarak Trust, Dr Tilak played a key role in preserving and promoting the legacy of Lokmanya Tilak. A large number of eminent personalities gathered in Pune to pay tribute to Dr Tilak. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, NCP leader Sharad Pawar, and Union Minister of State for Cooperation and Civil Aviation visited his home to offer condolences.
Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar said, “Dr Deepak Tilak made significant contributions to education, journalism, and social service. He upheld the Tilak family’s legacy of national service, using the historic Kesari as a platform to promote patriotism, values-based thinking, and public education.”
Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!
