Gopal Krishna Gokhale (May 09,1866 – February 19,1915)

 

Gopal Krishna Gokhale  was born on May 09,1866 in Kothluk village of Guhagar Taluka in Ratnagiri District, in present-day Maharashtra(then part of the Bombay Presidency) in a Chitpavan Brahmin Family.

Gopal Krishna Gokhale was one of the founding social and political leaders during the Indian Independence Movement against British Empire in India

Gopal Krishna Gokhale fought for decades to obtain greater political representation and power over public affairs for common Indians. He was moderate in his views and attitudes, and sought to petition the British authorities by cultivating a process of dialogue and discussion which would yield greater British respect for Indian rights

Gopal Krishna Gokhale was a senior leader of the Indian National Congress and founder of the Servants of India Society. Through the Society as well as the Congress and other legislative bodies he served in, Gokhale promoted not only primarily independence from the British Empire but also social reform. To achieve his goals, Gokhale followed two overarching principles: non-violence and reform within existing government institutions.

Gopal Krishna Gokhale wrote that "The Servants of India Society will train men prepared to devote their lives to the cause of country in a religious spirit, and will seek to promote, by all constitutional means, the national interests of the Indian people.

The Society took up the cause of promoting Indian education in earnest, and among its many projects organised mobile libraries, founded schools, and provided night classes for factory workers.

Although the Society lost much of its vigor following Gokhale’s death, it still exists to this day, though its membership is small.

Gopal Krishna Gokhale became a member of the Indian National Congress in 1889 and in 1905 was elected president of the Indian National Congress