Bal Gangadhar Tilak termed the Montford reforms as 'unworthy and disappointing - a sunless dawn'. Let us understand the context and significance of this statement.

Context:
The Montford reforms were introduced in 1919 by the British government in India. These reforms were named after the then Governor-General of India, Lord Montford. The main objective of these reforms was to introduce some measures of self-government in India and to address some of the demands of the Indian nationalist movement.

Significance:
The Montford reforms introduced some significant changes in the Indian political system. These reforms provided for the following:

- Introduction of the concept of dyarchy, which meant that certain subjects such as education, health, and local government were transferred to Indian ministers, while important areas such as finance, law, and order remained under British control.
- Expansion of the franchise by lowering the property qualifications for voting and increasing the number of voters.
- Establishment of a bicameral legislature at the provincial level and the creation of a central legislative assembly.

However, Indian nationalists were not satisfied with these reforms as they fell short of their demands for complete self-rule and independence. They felt that the reforms were inadequate and did not give enough power to the Indian people. Bal Gangadhar Tilak, one of the prominent leaders of the Indian nationalist movement, was particularly critical of the Montford reforms.

Tilak's statement:
Tilak termed the Montford reforms as 'unworthy and disappointing - a sunless dawn'. This statement reflects his disappointment with the reforms and his belief that they did not go far enough in addressing the demands of the Indian people. Tilak felt that the reforms were a mere token gesture by the British government and did not represent a genuine attempt to give the Indian people the power they deserved.

Conclusion:
In conclusion, Bal Gangadhar Tilak's statement about the Montford reforms reflects the disappointment and frustration of the Indian nationalist movement with the British government's attempts to address their demands. The Montford reforms may have introduced some measures of self-government in India, but they fell short of the aspirations of the Indian people for complete freedom and independence.

The Congress met in a special session in August 1918 at Bombay under Hasan Imam's presidency and declared the reforms to be "disappointing" and "unsatisfactory" and demanded effective self-government instead. The Montford reforms were termed "unworthy and disappointing-a sunless dawn" by Tilak, even as Annie Besant found them "unworthy of England to offer and India to accept".