Ritika
New Delhi: Today is the 108th death anniversary of Gopal Krishna Gokhale, known as the ‘Gladstone’ of India. He was a great social reformer and educationist. He had the biggest contribution in India’s freedom struggle. Gokhale provided exemplary leadership to India’s freedom movement. Gopal Krishna Gokhale was a disciple of Mahadev Govind Ranade. Apart from being a great freedom fighter, he was also a seasoned politician. Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi learned a lot about politics from Gopal Krishna Gokhale and hence he is called the political guru of the Father of the Nation.
India’s ‘Gladstone’
Gopal Krishna Gokhale had a unique understanding of financial matters and the ability to debate them authoritatively. Because of which he is called ‘Gladstone’ of India. Gokhale was the most famous moderate in the Indian National Congress. Fully agreeing with the need for character building, he established the Servants of India Society in the year 1905. Because the youth can get training for public life. Gokhale believed that scientific and technical education was an important need of India.
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Birth
Gopal Krishna Gokhale was born on 9 May 1866 in Kotluk, Ratnagiri, Maharashtra. His father’s name was Krishna Rao and he was a clerk by profession. And his mother Valubai was a housewife. Gokhale’s early education was completed at Rajaram High School, Kotluk. Gokhale was an extremely brilliant student during his early education. Because of this, he started getting a scholarship of 20 rupees from the government. After which teachers and classmates appreciated him a lot. Then no one would have guessed that one day this brilliant student would be called the political guru of Mahatma Gandhi, who is called the Father of the Nation of India.
politics
Gopal Krishna Gokhale’s life took a new direction after meeting Lokmanya Tilak in 1885. He was greatly influenced by Tilak’s speeches. After which he met Rande. Seeing the work of Rande, Gokhale’s interest in social work started increasing. And he joined the Indian National Congress. He was the most moderate leader of the Indian National Congress. He became the President of INC in Banaras session 1905. He established an organization called ‘Servants of India Society’ which was dedicated to the interests of the common people. He had a good command of English, due to which he was able to express himself without hesitation and with utmost clarity.
Society related work
Gopal Krishna Gokhale established the Servants of India Society in the year 1905 for the expansion of Indian education. He was also associated with the ‘Sarvajanika Sabha Patrika’ started by Mahadev Govind Ranade. He also established the Ranade Institute of Economics in the year 1908. Not only this, Gokhale also started the English weekly newspaper ‘The Hitvad’.
Gokhale had taught Gandhi to understand the country
It was Gopal Krishna Gokhale who taught Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi to understand the country. Father of the nation Gandhi considered him as his political guru. It was Gokhale who advised Mahatma Gandhi to visit the whole country and understand India. Mahatma Gandhi was a great admirer of Gokhale and accepted him as his political guru. Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi was most influenced by Gokhale.
truthful ideal man
Mahatma Gandhi had said about Gopal Krishna Gokhale that I was looking for a completely truthful ideal man in India and I found him in the form of Gokhale. He had true love and real reverence for India in his heart. They should be beyond all their pleasures and selfishness for the service of the country.
goodbye to the world
This son of Mother India died on 19 February 1915 to free India from the slavery of the British. The patriotism of Gopal Krishna Gokhale, who was a leader in the freedom struggle, was full of spirituality. He was active in political work and social work even in his last days. He was also employed in the Bharat Samaj Sevak established by himself.
