Tilak’s political philosophy can be explained under the following points: 

1. Concept regarding freedom of individual: 

Tilak talked about the freedom of individual in the Vedantic spirit. Tilak accepted freedom of individual as a means of spiritual development and as helpful in reuniting individual’s soul to God’s soul. According to Tilak, swaraj is helpful in all – around development of an individual and a helpful factor in spiritual elevation of an individual.

2. Morality the basis of the individual and the society:

According to Tilak, human being is not a national or social being on account of his radical nature; but basically, man is a spiritual or moral being. Tilak made his concept of ‘sarva dharma’ or eternal morality the basis of his political thinking.

3. Discord with western politics and materialism: 

Tilak has shown disagreement with various physical principles of the west. He believed that these western principles are not in accordance with Indian spiritualism, its culture and polity (politics).

4. His thoughts regarding the means: 

According to Tilak, achievement of Swaraj was a pious goal. Under the then situation, he adopted aggressive political means, often called ‘open political’ means. Tilak authorized four means for achieving Swaraj – swedeshi, boycott, national education and non-violent resistance. He believed that he could abolish British fear from the hearts of Indians while adopting these four means and they could be inspired to make sacrifices for motherland.

5. Nationalism influenced by the pride of ancient India: 

Tilak is given the credit of providing Indian nationalism a definite and concrete concept. Tilak wanted to develop Indian nationalism according to Indian traditions, feelings and the situations. Tilak was a votary of “Swadeshi Swaraj.”

6. Thoughts regarding nationality, unity, and communal harmony: 

Tilak favoured Hindu – Muslim unity and communal harmony. He wanted to develop Indian nationalism. With this goal in view, Tilak tried to develop the sentiments of national unity among the groups of different religions, cultures and languages, and tried to make national unity unbreakable.

7. Ideology of Swaraj: 

According to Tilak, Swaraj is a helping factor in all – round development and the spiritual elevation of human being. Tilak has chiefly mentioned two forms of Swaraj – the spiritual Swaraj and the political Swaraj. The spiritual Swaraj helps a human being in his spiritual elevation, while the political swaraj helps human being to elevate him in the earthly world.

During the British rule, there was a continuous fall of Indians in all walks of life. To get rid of this decline, the only remedy for Indians was to obtain both, political and spiritual Swaraj. So, Tilak asserted his unfaltering determination. He said to the British government in a challenging tone,“Swaraj is my birthright and I shall have it”.