Gopala Krishna Gokhale
Gopala Krishna Gokhale:
Gopala Krishna Gokhale was a prominent freedom fighter and political guru to Mahatma Gandhiji. He was born on May 9, 1866, in Kolhapur, Maharashtra. His father, Krishna Rao, was a farmer and later worked as a clerk in a local British Company. Mother was Valubai, also known as Valubai. Her Mother seems a straightforward woman. However, she knows profoundly about Indian mythologies and epics. She taught her children about the values of life and religion. Gopala Krishna Gokhale’s native village was so far from Thmhanmala town. However, he was raised in his maternal grandfather’s home and continued his studies.
Gopala Krishna Gokhale Education:
His formal education was completed in the local school later went to Rajaram high school for higher education in Kolhapur. He gave very preference to the bondages among the siblings. So He had good respect for his elder brother and Sister-in-law. So he learned the values of self-sacrifice, went to school without meals and studied under the street lamps to save his elder brother money. He worked hard in his studies, graduating from Elphinstone College, Bombay, in 1884 at 18. In his final year of graduation, he got a scholarship of Rs 20 per month.
Gopalakrishnan Ghokale’s command of the English Language:
He had a command of English and was very fluent in speaking the language. Even he read many books on democracy and the parliamentary system. He could express his views in English without any hesitation before the British. So after his graduation, he got the Assistant Master Position in the new English school in Pune. He brought an arithmetic book with the collaboration of a colleague N.J. Bapat. This book became very famous and used widely in India, caused to think widely about the demerits of British rule in India. He was the founding member of Fergusson College in Pune in 1885 and dedicated 20 years to the development of this college as a teacher and board member.
Public Life:
At age 20, he gave public speeches on ‘India under British rule’. Hence, the public and the learners applauded his command of the English language. He thoroughly wrote articles for the English weekly Mahratta to stimulate the youth to achieve their new goals for a complimentary India. He wrote on many issues, especially on Patriotism among the people of India. His ideas, speeches, and knowledge made him the secretary of the Deccan Education Society. In 1893 he was elected to the Senate of Bombay University.
In those days, the conflicts between the Hindus and Muslims were very more. So, Gokhale entirely concentrated on developing communal harmony among the Indians. He was elected twice as the President of Pune Municipality. Then he solved many problems of people experiencing poverty, restored the drainage facilities and concentrated on the sufficient water supply to all classes of People in Pune. Gopala Krishna Gokhale also published a daily newspaper, ‘Jnanaprakash’, and wrote many articles on specific reforms in politics and society.
Servants of India Society:
He taught that selfless service could only benefit ordinary people. Due to this motto, he started a foundation named ‘Servants of Indian Society to support people in various fields. The members of the foundation service educating women in society to help victims of floods. Many people influenced the ideas of Gopala Krishna Gokhale and supported him in his work. Then Mahadev Govind remade taught Gokhale about sincerity, devotion to public service and tolerance. These qualities made Gokhale a pure devotional-spirited man.
Gopala Krishna Gokhale went to England to explain to the British Government and society the Britisher’s unfair treatment of the Indian people. He spent 49 days in England and delivered 47 speeches to 47 different audiences.
Reforms Indian Society:
He firmly believed that the reforms in Indian society could help to attain Swaraj. Therefore he brought a mechanism to get reforms in Indian culture. These efforts made the British Government bring Minto-Morley reforms in 1909. But his desire for communal harmony was not possible to bring Unity to various communities. The Muslim community thought that they belonged to a separate unit. While travelling all over India, he tried to bring Unity among the people and communal harmony.
Gopalakrishnan Gokhale Death:
He travelled to various places and gave speeches about Unity among the people of India. He worked hard for many years to bring absolute awareness about freeing India. Gopala Krishna Gokhale’s devotion to the country did not allow him to rest. The heavy work took a toll on Gopala Krishna Gokhale, worsening his health. Finally, he died on February 19, 1915, leaving his tendency to followers even though India lost a natural patriotic leader of Mother India.