Gopal Krishna Gokhale Biography: Birthday, Early Life, Education, Career, Achievements, Death, Legacy, Facts

Gopal Krishna Biography: Gopal Krishna Gokhale was one of the most astute and moderate Indian National Congress leaders. He advocated for self-government in India and became the voice of Indians seeking independence from British rule. He founded the Society of Indian Servants to inspire nationalists. Gopal  emphasised the importance of social reform. He led the moderate faction and supports the reforms by cooperating with the existing government institutions and apparatus.

Gopal Krishna Gokhale Biography

Early Life, Family, and Education for Gopal Krishna Gokhale.

On May 9, 1866, he was born in Ratnagiri District, Bombay Presidency (now Maharashtra) to a Chitapavan Brahmin family. He attended Rajaram High School in Kolhapur before moving to Bombay for his higher education. At the age of eighteen, he graduated from Elphinstone College in Bombay. In college, he realised the significance of a Parliamentary system and democracy. He joined the Deccan Education Society after completing his bachelor’s degree. His preceptor in Poona was the renowned scholar and jurist Mahadev Govind Ranade. He began working with Ranade at Poona Sarvajanik Sabha, and later became Secretary. It was Bombay’s foremost political organisation. In 1891, he was appointed professor and secretary of the Deccan Education Society at Fergusson College. Due to his excellent command of the English language, he had no trouble communicating with the British.

Gopal Krishna Gokhale: His Political Profession and Accomplishments

In the year 1889, he joined the Indian National Congress. He was also the secretary of the “Reception Committee” of the Indian National Congress’ Poona session in 1895. He came to represent the Indian National Congress prominently. Additionally, he was a member of the Bombay Legislative Council. Prior to his election to the Imperial Legislative Council in 1902, he played a significant role.

He quickly became the most distinguished member of the Imperial Legislative Council after gaining knowledge and mastery of all pertinent details of pending legislation in the Imperial Legislative Council. He was also well-known for his impressive participation in the annual budget debate.

By 1905, Gopal Krishna Gokhale had reached the pinnacle of his career. He was elected president of the Indian National Congress in 1905. In 1905, he founded the ‘Servants of India Society’ with the intention of training individuals to devote themselves to the service of India as national missionaries. Also, to promote the national interests of the Indian people through all constitutional means.

He established the ‘Ranade Institute of Economics in 1908. He opposed the caste system and the practice of untouchability. Gopal advocated the emancipation of women and the promotion of female education. He was also instrumental in the 1909 Minto-Morley Reforms, which were ultimately passed into law. But it did not grant the people a democratic system. In South Africa in 1912, Gopal Krishna Gokhale met Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi to discuss Gandhi’s campaign for Indian civil rights. In addition, he conferred with General Jan Smuts to assist in securing a satisfactory Indian position agreement. Without a doubt, Gopal Krishna Gokhale rendered immeasurable service to the Indian cause. He passed away on February 19, 1915.

Death

Gopal Krishna Gokhale contributed immeasurably to the cause of India through years of labour and devotion. However, his diabetes and cardiac asthma were exacerbated by his excessive exertion and resultant exhaustion. On February 19, 1915, the renowned leader passed away without incident.

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Legacy

Gokhale’s perspectives were formed by his education, extensive reading, and mentor Govind Ranade. Throughout his career, he addressed issues such as social, economic, and political reforms while preserving the country’s rich cultural heritage. Initially, he was eager to engage with the government on a number of social issues because he admired the British thinkers’ values. He advocated liberalism, emotionless reason, and the significance of education in enlightening minds. In 1910, Gokhale introduced his Elementary Education Bill, which eventually evolved into the Right to Education Act a century later. In this bill, Gokhale advocated for free and compulsory education. His perspective clearly distinguished between spirituality and religiosity, and his religion was nationalism. Instead of seeking personal glory or authority, Gokhale devoted his life to advancing his ideals on a national stage. Many leaders of the Indian National Movement, including Mahatma Gandhi, drew inspiration from him.

Facts

• Gokhale was inspired to join the INC in 1889 by his mentor, the social reformist M G Ranade.
• Along with numerous other leaders and progressives, he fought for greater political rights for the Indian people. He was of the middle ground. In order to acquire rights and privileges from the government, he desired nonviolent and nonconfrontational tactics.
• Here, he clashed with the extremist faction of the INC, led by Bal Gangadhar Tilak.
• In 1890, he was elected Honorary Secretary of the Sarvajanik Sabha of Pune.
• In 1893, Gokhale was appointed Secretary of the Bombay Provincial Conference, and in 1895, he served alongside Tilak as Joint Secretary of the INC.
• Gokhale believed in collaborating with the colonial authority in order to implement social reforms. He was elected to the Legislative Council of Bombay in 1899 and the Imperial Council of the Governor-General in 1901.
• Gopal Krishna Gokhale’s Revolutionary Transformations
• In 1905, Gokhale founded the Servants of India Society for the purpose of expanding Indians’ access to education. He desired that Indians receive an education that instills in them a sense of civic and patriotic duty.
• As part of the Society’s activities, he organised mobile schools and libraries. He also instructed industrial employees at night.
• His speech on the budget before the Central Legislative Council demonstrated his sound and comprehensive statistical abilities.
• Gopal Krishna Gokhale was instrumental in the passage of the Morley-Minto reforms.
• Gokhale established the ‘Ranade Institute of Economics in 1908. He opposed untouchability and the caste system, advocated for women’s liberation, and supported female education.
• On Gandhi’s instruction, Gokhale travelled to South Africa in 1912 to meet with Mahatma Gandhi. Gokhale is renowned for mentoring the patriarch of the nation, who returned to India at his request.