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.