Gopal Krishna Gokhale 153rd Birth Anniversary: 10 Facts About Social Reformer and Mahatma Gandhi's Political Guru

Mumbai, May 9: Today is the 153rd birth anniversary of social reformer, freedom fighter, scholar and Mahatma Gandhi's political guru, Gopal Krishna Gokhale. Gopal Krishna Gokhale was born on May 9, 1866 in Ratnagiri, Maharashtra. Gokhale was the face of the moderate nationalists in the Indian National Congress movement, which was formed for gaining independence for India from the British rule.

Political leaders across party lines remembered the leader on his birth anniversary. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also paid tributes to the social reformer and leader. PM Modi recalled the work done by Gokhale for the marginalised section of the society.

Read PM Modi's Tribute in the Tweet Below

Here Are the Top 10 Facts About Gopal Krishna Gokhale on His Birth Anniversary

1. Gopal Krishna Gokhale was a professor of history and political economy at the Fergusson College, Pune. He resigned from the job to join active politics.

2. Gokhale was among the most prominent faces in the Indian National Congress and a strong advocate for constitutional ways of struggle for gaining independence from the British rule.

3. Gokhale also served as the President of the Indian National Congress and was elected to the post in the year 1905.

4. Gopal Krishna Gokhale's deep concern for the marginalised section of the society led him to form the Servants of India Society. The members of the Society dedicated themselves to lifelong service for the poor and downtrodden.

5. Gokhale also worked for the cause of the oppressed in South Africa.

6. It was Gopal Krishna Gokhale who persuaded a young Mohandas Gandhi to return to India and help the Congress in struggling for India's independence.

7. Gopal Krishna Gokhale's rival in the Congress movement was Lokmanya Tilak. Both the leaders came to represent the moderate and extremist faction in the Indian National Congress movement.

8. Gokhale was a qualified economist and a scholar in his own right.

9. Gokhale's mentor was Justice MG Ranade who had started the Sarvajanik Sabha Journal. Gokhale assisted him in this effort.

10. Gokhale died at the age of 48, on February 19, 1915 in Bombay, then known as the Bombay Presidency.

Gopal Krishna Gokhale will always be remembered for his service to the marginalised and the downtrodden in the society. An illuminary of the freedom movement, it was Gokhale's legacy and political convictions that Mohandas aka Mahatma Gandhi carried forward to lead the Indian Freedom Struggle movement. LatestLY remembers Gopal Krishna Gokhale and pays humble tributes on the scholar and social reformer's birth anniversary.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 09, 2019 02:20 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).