Which nationalist leader gave the famous slogan Swaraj is my birthright and I shall have it during the freedom struggle?

Introduction / Context:
Slogans played a powerful role in inspiring people during the Indian freedom movement. One of the best known slogans is Swaraj is my birthright and I shall have it, which expressed a strong demand for self government and stirred nationalist feelings in the early twentieth century. This question asks you to identify the leader associated with this famous declaration, which is often quoted in textbooks and speeches about the national struggle.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The slogan is Swaraj is my birthright and I shall have it.
• It belongs to the freedom struggle against British rule.
• The options include Mahatma Gandhi, Subhash Chandra Bose, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Lala Lajpat Rai, and Bhagat Singh.
• You must match the slogan with the correct historical personality.

Concept / Approach:
Bal Gangadhar Tilak, a prominent nationalist leader from Maharashtra and a key figure in the extremist wing of the Indian National Congress, is widely credited with coining and popularising this slogan. He used it to demand Swaraj, or self rule, as a natural right of Indians. While Gandhi later led the mass phase of the movement and other leaders like Bose, Lala Lajpat Rai, and Bhagat Singh gave their own inspiring calls, this specific phrase is firmly associated with Tilak and his early twentieth century activism.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recognise that Swaraj means self rule or self government. Step 2: Recall that Bal Gangadhar Tilak was one of the first national leaders to make a bold, uncompromising demand for Swaraj as an immediate goal. Step 3: He used the slogan Swaraj is my birthright and I shall have it to express his conviction that Indians had a natural right to govern themselves. Step 4: Mahatma Gandhi later popularised slogans like Do or Die and focused on non violent mass struggle, while Subhash Chandra Bose used calls such as Give me blood and I will give you freedom. Step 5: Lala Lajpat Rai and Bhagat Singh were also inspirational figures, but they are not credited with this particular slogan in standard historical accounts. Step 6: Therefore, Bal Gangadhar Tilak is the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
Histories of the Indian national movement and biographies of Tilak consistently mention this slogan in connection with his political campaigns. Many exam preparation books list famous slogans and their authors, placing Swaraj is my birthright and I shall have it under Tilak name. Other leaders are mentioned with their own well known slogans, which helps clearly map each phrase to the correct personality. This repeated attribution across sources confirms that Tilak is the appropriate choice.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Mahatma Gandhi: He used many powerful phrases but is not associated with this particular slogan, which belongs to an earlier phase of the movement.

Subhash Chandra Bose: His notable slogan was Give me blood and I will give you freedom, so attributing the Swaraj birthright slogan to him would be incorrect.
Lala Lajpat Rai: He was a colleague of Tilak in the extremist wing but did not coin this phrase.
Bhagat Singh: As a revolutionary, he wrote and spoke about freedom and sacrifice, yet this exact slogan is not linked to him in mainstream history.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes confuse different slogans because they all express a desire for freedom. Another error is to pick a more widely known figure like Gandhi or Bose without recalling the precise wording. To avoid this, create mental pairs, such as Tilak with Swaraj is my birthright, Gandhi with Do or Die, and Bose with Give me blood and I will give you freedom. This practice keeps the associations clear and exam answers accurate.

Final Answer:
The slogan Swaraj is my birthright and I shall have it was given by Bal Gangadhar Tilak.