Gopal Krishna Gokhale (1866-1915) Best
known as "the Political Guru of Gandhi", Gokhale was born in 1866 at
Kolhapur in Maharashtra. He graduated from Elphinstone College, Mumbai in 1884.
At the young age of 20, he became Professor of History and Economics at the
Fergusson College, Poona. For four years he edited the 'Sudharak', a quarterly
journal of the Poona Sarvajanik Sabha. In 1904 he was awarded the title of CIE
(Companion of the Indian Empire). During his visit to England in 1905, he tried to persuade
the British statesmen not to give effect to the Partition of Bengal. He,
however, failed in his efforts.
Gokhale's Contribution to the Freedom
Struggle:
1. Foremost
among the Congress Leaders: Gokhale was one of India's most respected leaders.
He presided over the Varanasi Session of the Congress in 1905. He was a man
with moderate views and had immense faith in British liberalism. Gokhale urged
that "the goal of the Congress should be the attainment of a form of
government similar to that which existed in the self-governing colonies of the
British empire."
"The field of constitutional
agitation was a very wide one... Three things were excluded—rebellion, aiding
or abetting a foreign invasion, and resort to crime. ; Roughly speaking,
barring these three things, all else was constitutional." —Gokhale
2. His
Faith in Constitutional Means to achieve the Goal: Gokhale believed in
constitutional agitation, i.e., petitions, appeals to justice and passive resistance.
At the same time, he supported the Swadeshi Movement. In his Presidential
Address at the Varanasi session, he said, the true Swadeshi Movement is both a
patriotic and an economic movement." He made a strong plea for the reform
of the Legislative Councils and separation of fudiciary from the executive.
3. Established
the Servants of India Society: In 1905 Gokhale established the Servants of
India Society. The Society trained men to devote their lives to the cause of
the country. Its members were required to create among the people a deep and
passionate love of the motherland. The Society assisted educational movements,
especially those for the education of women. It worked for the elevation of the
depressed classes.
4. Arousal
of National Awakening: In 1902 Gokhale had become the Member of the Imperial
Legislative Council. In his speeches in the Council, he pleaded for reduction
in salt duty and the abolition of excise duty on cotton goods. In 1910 and 1912
he moved resolutions in the
Imperial Legislative Council for relief
to Indian bonded labour in Natal. In one of his Budget speeches he pleaded for
free primary education for all children. Gokhale would like Indians to be given
a large share in Indian Civil Service.
5. His
Work Abroad: In a paper which he read at the New Reform Club, London, he said,
"India's destiny is to obtain an honoured place among the family of
nations."
6. His
Economic Ideas: Gokhale was deeply pained to see the increasing misery of the
peasantry. He pleaded for the reduction of land revenue. Gokhale was in favour
of State protection to infant Indian industries. He called for the employment
of members of educated middle class. Gokhale had great reverence for
Pherozeshah Mehta. He said, "I would rather be wrong with Pherozeshah than
right without him".
Gokhale died in 1915 at a premature age
of forty-nine.Advertisements
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