Bal Gangadhar Tilak had established the Home Rule League in April 1916 at the Bombay Provincial Congress which was held in what is now known as Belagavi district, Karnataka. The term “Home Rule League” was inspired from a political party and movement of similar nomenclature in Ireland for the objective of attaining self-government. Although Annie Beasant had also launched a Home Rule League, the two Leagues neither merged, nor did any situation of friction arise between them as they had demarcated their respective areas of activity. Thus, whereas Tilak operated in Maharashtra (excluding Bombay city), Karnataka, Berar and the Central Provinces; Beasant worked in the rest of India, with South as her primary focus.

Tilak promoted his League by touring Maharashtra and delivering lectures to popularize and promulgate the essence of Home Rule League. The League also published pamphlets in Marathi, English, Gujarati and Kannada to promulgate their propaganda. Tilak’s Home Rule League was successful in mobilizing and enlisting huge masses (14,000 by April 1917). However, when Tilak left for England to for the libel case against Valentine Chirol, the movement lost its steam.

One of the striking achievements of the Home Rule League was in creating a popular base via its organizational links and a generation of nationalists.

Source: Indian Culture Portal