New Delhi, February 19: When a young Mahatma Gandhi arrived in India, he was filled with enthusiasm but lacked a deep understanding of the country’s realities. It was Gopal Krishna Gokhale who provided Gandhi with the wisdom that would later shake the foundations of British rule.
Gokhale advised Gandhi, “Keep your eyes open for the next year, but keep your mouth shut.” He understood that for Gandhi to become the ‘Mahatma’, he first needed to comprehend India. Without Gokhale, the world might never have known the Gandhi it reveres today.
Born on May 9, 1866, in Ratnagiri, Gokhale was a mathematics professor, and his political approach was as precise as his academic discipline. When he stood in the Imperial Legislative Council, he wielded not a sword but sheets of data.
It is said that when Gokhale spoke on the budget, the then Viceroy and British officials became uneasy. Even the arrogant Lord Curzon acknowledged Gokhale’s logical prowess. Gokhale was the first to show the British how the salt tax was robbing the poor of not just flavor but also their livelihoods.
He opposed the excessive military expenditures, arguing that those funds should be redirected toward the education of Indian children.
Gokhale believed that politics was not a “part-time job” but a form of penance. With this conviction, he founded the ‘Servants of India Society’ in 1905. This was not a political party but a sanctuary for patriots.
Young members had to take seven stringent vows, pledging to live in poverty, think only for the nation, and not accumulate wealth for their families. Gokhale nurtured a generation that valued being the foundation of society over seeking the limelight.
Today, it may be hard to believe, but there was a time when Muhammad Ali Jinnah, who later became the founder of Pakistan, was one of Gokhale’s biggest admirers. Gokhale was such a proponent of Hindu-Muslim unity that Jinnah publicly declared, “My only ambition is to become a Muslim Gokhale.” Gokhale referred to Jinnah as “the best ambassador of Hindu-Muslim unity.”
In his final days, Gokhale worked tirelessly to unite the Congress’s extremist (Tilak faction) and moderate factions. Sarojini Naidu called him “the greatest ambassador of Hindu-Muslim unity.” His charisma was such that even his staunch opponent, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, wrote in ‘Kesari’ upon Gokhale’s death that India had lost its “diamond.”
Gokhale laid out a blueprint for self-governance in India, known as ‘Gokhale’s Political Testament’. In it, he envisioned a future where Indians had the right to govern themselves. This document became the foundation for the 1919 reforms and the subsequent constitution.
History sometimes turns its pages quietly. The year 1915 stands as a testament to this. Fate had it that Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi returned to India from South Africa in January 1915, and just a month later, on February 15, his political mentor Gokhale passed away.
My name is Narendra Jijhontiya. I am an experienced content writer with several years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including TECHNOLOGY, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.
Leave a Comment