A pioneer of India’s freedom movement, Gopal Krishna Gokhale was born on May 9, 1866 in Kothapur, Maharashtra to Krishna Rao, who was a farmer and was forced to work as clerk, as the soil of the region was not favourable for agriculture. Gokhale received his early education at the Rajaram High School in Kothapur with the help of financial assistance from his elder brother. Later he moved to Bombay and in the year 1884 at the age of 18 he graduated from Elphinstone College.
Gopal Krishna Gokhale was one of the first cohorts of Indians to receive college education. He was respected widely in the nascent Indian intellectual community and across India. Education influenced him significantly and his understanding of the English language allowed him to express himself without hesitation and with extreme clarity. His admiration and knowledge of history instilled in him a respect for liberty, democracy, and the parliamentary system. After completion of his graduation, he moved on to teaching, and joined as an Assistant Teacher in the New English School in Pune. In the year 1885, he moved to Pune and became one of the founding members of Fergusson College, together with his contemporaries in Deccan Education Society. Gopal Krishna Gokhale gave nearly two decades of his life to Fergusson College and rose to become the principal of the college. During this time, Gokhale came in contact with Mahadev Govind Ranade, who was a judge, scholar, and social reformer, whom Gokhale addressed as his guru. Gokhale worked with Ranade in Poona Sarvajanik Sabha of which Gokhale became the Secretary.
At the age of 20, in the year 1886, he entered public life. He delivered a speech in public on "India under the British Rule", which was highly appreciated. Gokhale often contributed articles to Bal Gangadhar Tilak's weekly "Mahratta". Through his articles he tried to arouse the dormant patriotism of Indian people and soon, he was promoted as Secretary of the Deccan Education Society. In the year 1895, when the Indian National Congress held its session in Poona, he was the secretary of the Reception Committee. From this session, Gokhale became an important member of the Indian National Congress. He was twice elected as president of Pune Municipal and for a sometime he was also a member of the Bombay Legislative Council, where he spoke strongly against the British Government.
In the year 1902, Gokhale left the Fergusson College. He became a Member of the Imperial Legislative Council in Delhi. There he spoke for the people of the country in a perfect way. As Gokhale had an outstanding clutch of the economic problems of the country, which he skilfully presented during the debates. In the year 1905, he started a new society called "Servants of India Society". This society trained workers in the service of the country. In the same year, Gokhale went to England to voice his concerns relating to the inequitable treatment of the Indian people by the British government. In a duration of 49 days, he spoke in front of 47 different audiences, fascinating every one of them. Gokhale appealed for gradual reforms to eventually attain Swaraj, or self-government, in India. He was active in the introduction of the Morley- Minto Reforms of 1909, which eventually became a law. Despite the fact that the reforms disseminated the seeds of communal division in India, however, they gave Indian access to the seats of the highest authority within the government, and their voices were more perceptible in matters of public interest.
Gopal Krishna Gokhale was one of the pioneers of the Indian national movement and was a senior leader of the Indian National Congress. He influenced the people of the nation and became an inspiration for the millions of Indians who were looking for freedom from the British rule and their atrocities and Mahatma Gandhi as well regarded as him as his political guru. Gopal Krishna Gokhale was a diabetic and asthmatic patient and owing to extreme contention took its toll on Gokhale's health and he died on February 19, 1915.
Birth: May 9, 1866
Death: February 19, 1915
Achievements: One of the pioneers of the India's freedom movement; founder of the Servants of India Society.
Gopal Krishna Gokhale was one of the first cohorts of Indians to receive college education. He was respected widely in the nascent Indian intellectual community and across India. Education influenced him significantly and his understanding of the English language allowed him to express himself without hesitation and with extreme clarity. His admiration and knowledge of history instilled in him a respect for liberty, democracy, and the parliamentary system. After completion of his graduation, he moved on to teaching, and joined as an Assistant Teacher in the New English School in Pune. In the year 1885, he moved to Pune and became one of the founding members of Fergusson College, together with his contemporaries in Deccan Education Society. Gopal Krishna Gokhale gave nearly two decades of his life to Fergusson College and rose to become the principal of the college. During this time, Gokhale came in contact with Mahadev Govind Ranade, who was a judge, scholar, and social reformer, whom Gokhale addressed as his guru. Gokhale worked with Ranade in Poona Sarvajanik Sabha of which Gokhale became the Secretary.
At the age of 20, in the year 1886, he entered public life. He delivered a speech in public on "India under the British Rule", which was highly appreciated. Gokhale often contributed articles to Bal Gangadhar Tilak's weekly "Mahratta". Through his articles he tried to arouse the dormant patriotism of Indian people and soon, he was promoted as Secretary of the Deccan Education Society. In the year 1895, when the Indian National Congress held its session in Poona, he was the secretary of the Reception Committee. From this session, Gokhale became an important member of the Indian National Congress. He was twice elected as president of Pune Municipal and for a sometime he was also a member of the Bombay Legislative Council, where he spoke strongly against the British Government.
In the year 1902, Gokhale left the Fergusson College. He became a Member of the Imperial Legislative Council in Delhi. There he spoke for the people of the country in a perfect way. As Gokhale had an outstanding clutch of the economic problems of the country, which he skilfully presented during the debates. In the year 1905, he started a new society called "Servants of India Society". This society trained workers in the service of the country. In the same year, Gokhale went to England to voice his concerns relating to the inequitable treatment of the Indian people by the British government. In a duration of 49 days, he spoke in front of 47 different audiences, fascinating every one of them. Gokhale appealed for gradual reforms to eventually attain Swaraj, or self-government, in India. He was active in the introduction of the Morley- Minto Reforms of 1909, which eventually became a law. Despite the fact that the reforms disseminated the seeds of communal division in India, however, they gave Indian access to the seats of the highest authority within the government, and their voices were more perceptible in matters of public interest.
Gopal Krishna Gokhale was one of the pioneers of the Indian national movement and was a senior leader of the Indian National Congress. He influenced the people of the nation and became an inspiration for the millions of Indians who were looking for freedom from the British rule and their atrocities and Mahatma Gandhi as well regarded as him as his political guru. Gopal Krishna Gokhale was a diabetic and asthmatic patient and owing to extreme contention took its toll on Gokhale's health and he died on February 19, 1915.
Birth: May 9, 1866
Death: February 19, 1915
Achievements: One of the pioneers of the India's freedom movement; founder of the Servants of India Society.