Who was the first Indian National Congress and nationalist leader to face repeated imprisonment by the British due to his assertive and radical political activities?

Introduction / Context:
During the freedom struggle, several Indian National Congress leaders were imprisoned by the British colonial government. Among them, one early nationalist became famous not only as a leader of the extremist wing but also as the first prominent Congress leader to face repeated imprisonment for his fiery writings, speeches, and mass mobilisation efforts. This question asks you to identify that leader.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The context is early phases of the Indian National Congress.
• The leader faced repeated imprisonment, not just a single arrest.
• The options list both moderate and extremist leaders.
• We focus on who is widely remembered as the first to suffer repeated jail terms for nationalist agitation.

Concept / Approach:
We must recall which Congress leader was most famously associated with the slogan 'Swaraj is my birthright and I shall have it', edited nationalist newspapers, and frequently faced sedition charges. This leader belonged to the extremist group within the Congress and clashed with the moderates over methods. His confrontational stance led directly to several jail terms, setting an example for later generations of nationalists.

Step-by-Step Solution:
1. Pherozeshah Mehta was a respected moderate leader and municipal reformer, but he was not known for repeated imprisonment.2. B. G. Tilak (Bal Gangadhar Tilak) edited the newspaper 'Kesari' and used strong nationalist language, for which he was charged with sedition more than once.3. Tilak was imprisoned in 1897 and again in 1908, including deportation to Mandalay, which clearly qualifies as repeated imprisonment.4. Gopal Krishna Gokhale was a moderate who favoured constitutional methods and did not face repeated long-term jail sentences.5. Dadabhai Naoroji, though a towering intellectual figure, was mostly active in British parliamentary politics and constitutional agitation, not in confrontational mass politics that led to repeated jail terms.6. Therefore, B. G. Tilak is the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
Historical narratives of the nationalist movement consistently describe Bal Gangadhar Tilak as the first popular leader to face multiple sedition trials and imprisonments. His prosecutions became major political events, symbolising colonial repression and inspiring future revolutionaries. The fact that he was repeatedly jailed well before mass leaders like Mahatma Gandhi underscores his unique position in early Congress history.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• Pherozeshah Mehta: Known as the 'Lion of Bombay' for civic work, but not for repeated imprisonment.
• Gopal Krishna Gokhale: A moderate reformer and founder of the Servants of India Society, he believed in persuasion and debate rather than confrontational agitation.
• Dadabhai Naoroji: Famous for the 'Drain of Wealth' theory and as the first Indian MP in the British Parliament, but again not for extensive prison history.
• None of these: Incorrect because B. G. Tilak clearly fits the question.

Common Pitfalls:
Candidates sometimes confuse 'most influential' with 'most imprisoned'. While Naoroji and Gokhale were very influential, they were not repeatedly jailed. Another common error is to think only of Gandhi when imagining a leader often imprisoned, but the question specifically refers to the first Congress and nationalist leader to face repeated imprisonment, which points to Tilak's earlier generation.

Final Answer:
The first Congress and nationalist leader to face repeated imprisonment was B. G. Tilak (Bal Gangadhar Tilak).