Context:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently paid homage to Gopal Krishna Gokhale on his birth anniversary.
Gopal Krishna Gokhale:
- A great social reformer and freedom fighter
- Born in – 9 May 1866 in Maharashtra
- Leader of the moderate faction of the Congress party.
- Elected as the president of the Indian National Congress in the Benares Session of 1905
- In 1899, Gokhale was elected to the Bombay Legislative Council and in 1901 he was elected to the Imperial Council of the Governor-General of India.
- Gokhale played a key role in framing the Morley-Minto reforms of 1909.
- Mahatma Gandhi regarded Gopal Krishna Gokhale as his political mentor
- Gandhi also wrote a book titled Dharmatma Gokhale dedicated to his mentor.
Contributions:
- Servants of India Society – Formed by him in Pune (Maharashtra) in 1905 to promote education in India.
- Ranade Institute of Economics – In 1908, he founded the ‘Ranade Institute of Economics’.
- He was also associated with the Sarvajanik sabha journal started by Govind Ranade.
- Hitavad – He launched the English weekly newspaper named Hitavad (The people’s paper) in 1911.
Source: Prime Minister of India
Previous Year Question
Which one of the following movements has contributed to a split in the Indian National Congress resulting in emergence of ‘moderates’ and ‘extremists’?
[UPSC Civil Service Exam – 2015 Prelims]
(a) Swadeshi Movement
(b) Quit India Movement
(c) Non-Cooperation Movement
(d) Civil Disobedience Movement
Answer: (a)
