Gopal Krishna Gokhale Essay Example

constitutional agitation. He trusted the British and believed that self-government would be granted to Indians once they were prepared to govern themselves. He played a key role in ensuring the passage of the Morley Minto reforms. Gopal Krishna Gokhale dedicated his efforts to improving the material and moral well-being of the Indian people, making significant contributions in education, sanitation, and agriculture. Born on May 9, 1866 in Kotaluk, Maharashtra, which was then part of the Bombay Presidency.

Although Gokhale's family was poor, they ensured that he received an English education despite being a Chitpavan Brahmin. This education opened up opportunities for him to work as a clerk or minor official under the British Raj. Graduating from Elphinstone College in 1884, Gokhale became part of the early Indian generations to attend university. His education had a significant impact on his future career and introduced him to Western political thought, leading him to admire thinkers such as John Stuart Mill and Edmund Burke.

[1] Despite later criticizing many aspects of the English colonial regime, Gokhale maintained a deep respect for English political theory and institutions throughout his life. He joined the Indian National Congress in 1889, mentored by social reformer Mahadev Govind Ranade. Together with leaders such as Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Dadabhai Naoroji, Bipin Chandra Pal, Lala Lajpat Rai, and Annie Besant, Gokhale tirelessly fought to gain political representation and influence for ordinary Indians. His moderate views and approach involved engaging in dialogue and discussion with the British authorities to secure greater respect for Indian rights.

Gokhale went to Ireland[2] and arranged for Alfred Webb, an Irish nationalist, to become the President of the Indian National Congress in

1894. The next year, Gokhale and Tilak became joint secretaries of the Congress. In many ways, their early careers were similar - both were Chitpavan Brahmin (although Tilak was wealthy), both attended Elphinstone College, both became math professors, and both were important members of the Deccan Education Society. However, as they became involved in the Congress, their differing views on how to improve the lives of Indians became more apparent. [3] Gokhale's first major clash with Tilak was over the Age of Consent Bill introduced by the British Imperial Government in 1891-2.

Gokhale and other liberal reformers aimed to remove what they considered to be superstitions and injustices from Hinduism, specifically by addressing the issue of child marriage through the Consent Bill. Although the Bill was not radical, only raising the age of consent from ten to twelve, Tilak disagreed with it. His objection was not necessarily against the idea of ending child marriage, but rather against British intervention in Hindu traditions. Tilak believed that such reforms should be pursued after gaining independence, when Indians themselves would implement them, rather than under colonial rule where they would be imposed by the British. Despite Tilak's opposition, Gokhale and the reformers successfully passed the bill into law in the Bombay Presidency.

[4] In 1905, Gokhale assumed the presidency of the Indian National Congress. He used his newfound influence to undermine his long-term rival, Tilak, by not supporting Tilak's candidacy for president of the Congress in 1906. This caused a split within the Congress, with Gokhale leading the moderates and Tilak leading the "extremists" (now referred to as 'aggressive nationalists'). Tilak advocated for civil agitation and direct revolution to overthrow

British rule, while Gokhale leaned towards moderate reforms. This division greatly diminished the effectiveness of the Congress Party for ten years. However, the two factions reconciled in 1916 following Gokhale's death.

The Servants of India Society was founded by Gokhale in 1905 during his presidency of the Indian National Congress. Its main focus was on expanding Indian education. Gokhale believed that for true political change to occur in India, the younger generation needed to be educated about their civic and patriotic responsibilities towards their country and fellow citizens. He saw existing educational institutions and the Indian Civil Service as inadequate in providing Indians with opportunities for this kind of political education. Thus, he hoped that the Servants of India Society would fill this gap.

The Society's constitution stated its objective as training individuals who were willing to dedicate their lives to serving their country in a religious manner, while also promoting the national interests of the Indian people through legal methods.

To achieve these goals, the Society actively promoted Indian education by initiating projects such as mobile libraries, founding schools, and offering night classes for factory workers. Although it lost some momentum after Gokhale's death, the Society still exists today with a small membership.

Gokhale, a prominent leader of the Indian nationalist movement, focused on social reform rather than independence. He believed that working within the existing British government institutions would be the most effective approach to achieve the desired reform. This stance generated opposition from more aggressive nationalists like Tilak. However, Gokhale remained undeterred and continued collaborating directly with the British throughout his political career in order to advance his reform objectives. In 1899, he was elected

to the Bombay Legislative Council. He later became a non-officiating member representing Bombay Province in the Council of India under the Governor-General of India on May 22, 1903.

[7] After expanding in 1909, he served on the Imperial Legislative Council and gained a reputation for his extensive knowledge. His significant contributions to the debates on the annual budget, highly regarded by the British, resulted in an invitation to London where he met with Lord John Morley, establishing a good relationship.

Gokhale's visit to London influenced the shaping of the 1909 Morley-Minto Reforms. In recognition of his service, Gokhale received an appointment as a CIE (Companion of the Order of the Indian Empire) in the 1904 New Year's Honours List. As an influential figure, he mentored both Jinnah and Gandhi, particularly influencing Gandhi during his early years.

In 1912, Gandhi invited Gokhale to visit South Africa where he sought personal guidance from him. As a young barrister who had just returned from his struggles against the Empire in South Africa, Gandhi looked up to Gokhale for knowledge and understanding of India as well as the challenges faced by ordinary Indians. By 1920, Gandhi had become the leader of the Indian Independence Movement and credited Gokhale as his mentor and guide in his autobiography. Not only did Gandhi acknowledge Gokhale's role, but he also praised him for being an admirable leader and skilled politician. Describing him as 'pure as crystal, gentle as a lamb, brave as a lion, chivalrous to a fault', Gandhi considered Gokhale the most perfect man in the political arena.

Despite Gandhi's admiration for Gokhale, he differed with him on the idea of using western institutions for political

change, leading to his decision not to join Gokhale's Servants of India Society. Jinnah, on the other hand, held Gokhale in high regard and aspired to be a "Muslim Gokhale". The Aga Khan also acknowledged the significant impact that Gokhale had on his own thinking. Additionally, there is an esteemed research and training institute called the Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics (referred to as Gokhale Institute), which specializes in Economics and is located in Pune, Maharashtra, India.

The Institute was established with a donation given to the Servants of India Society by Shri R R Kale. The trustees of the Institute are also the Servants of India Society. Gokhale remained politically engaged and traveled extensively abroad until his death. In addition to his trip to England in 1908, he also visited South Africa in 1912 where Gandhi, his protege, was working towards improving conditions for the Indian minority. Furthermore, Gokhale actively participated in the Servants of India Society, the Congress, and the Legislative Council while consistently advocating for the advancement of Indian education. However, all these pressures eventually took a toll on him and Gokhale died on February 19, 1915 at forty-nine years old.

Gokhale had a profound influence on the Indian nationalist movement. His close rapport with the British imperial government enabled him to persuade them to recognize the capabilities of educated Indians and include them more in governance. Gokhale's advocacy for spiritualizing politics, enhancing social conditions, and providing universal education greatly impacted Mohandas K. Gandhi. Although Gandhi did not share Gokhale's trust in western political institutions and classical liberalism, this eventually materialized when independent India adopted the Westminster model of government in 1950.

Gopal Krishna Gokhale, a courageous and morally righteous leader, journeyed to South Africa in 1912 to lend support to Mahatma Gandhi's anti-racism campaign. Serving as Gandhi's political mentor, Gokhale played a pivotal role in persuading him to return to India and join the struggle for independence. Despite facing criticism from extremists who branded him a "timid moderate" and from the British who viewed him as a "disguised subversive," Gokhale was widely celebrated for his endeavors in nation-building. He can be characterized as a practical idealist.

On February 15, 1915, he died at the age of forty-nine.