Gopal Krishna Gokhale

Gopal Krishna Gokhale’s birth anniversary was celebrated on May 9.

About Gopal Krishna Gokhale:

• Born in 1866 in the Ratnagiri district of Maharashtra, Gopal Krishna Gokhale was a prominent figure during the turn of the 20th century in India.
• He was a professor at Fergusson College in Pune, where he taught political economy and history.
• Gokhale was a key figure in the Indian National Congress (INC) and was identified with its ‘moderate’ faction.
• He was the President of the INC during its Banaras session in 1905 and founded the ‘Servants of India Society’ in the same year.
• Known for his constitutional and liberal political ideologies, he was influenced by the British philosopher-parliamentarian Edmund Burke.
• Gokhale’s advocacy extended to decentralisation and the promotion of local governance through panchayat and taluka bodies.
• He opposed discriminatory practices and championed the cause of free and compulsory primary education, along with fighting against the indentured labour system and untouchability.
• He played a significant role in advocating for the rights of the Indian diaspora and opposed onerous land revenue policies by the British government.
• Gokhale served in colonial legislatures, including the Bombay Legislative Council (1899-1902) and the Imperial Legislative Council (1902-1915).
• He was instrumental in framing the Morley-Minto reforms of 1909, which aimed at expanding legislative councils at the Centre and the provinces.
• Despite ideological differences, he maintained cordial relations with the ‘Extremists’ within the Congress and even campaigned for the release of Lala Lajpat Rai in 1907.
• Mahatma Gandhi considered Gokhale as his political mentor, demonstrating the profound influence Gokhale had on later figures in the independence movement.