Gopal Krishna Gokhale

Gopal Krishna Gokhale , 1866-1915, Indian nationalist leader. A Brahman from Maharashtra, he was educated in India and became involved in the nationalist movement when he was quite young. A moderate, he stressed negotiation and conciliation rather than non-cooperation or violence. He was elected to the Bombay Legislative Council in 1899 and to the Imperial Legislative Council in 1902. The conflict of Gokhale's moderate views with the more militant ideas of Bal Gangadhar Tilak led to a breach in the Indian National Congress that nearly immobilized it from 1907 to 1916. Gokhale was instrumental in founding the Servants of India Society, a nationalist organization whose members, sworn to poverty and obedience, were enlisted to serve as volunteers for the social, political, and economic welfare of India.

Bibliography: See biography and collected works by J. S. Hoyland (1948); M. K. Gandhi, Gokhale, My Political Guru (1955); S. Wolpert, Tilak and Gokhale (1962); D. B. Mathur, Gokhale, a Political Biography (1966).

Gokhale, Gopal Krishna (1866–1915) Indian nationalist politician. The leader of the moderate faction in the Indian National CONGRESS, he became prominent in the Indian legislative Council established under the Morley-Minto Reforms in 1910, specializing in finance. He also founded in 1905 the Servants of India Society, an austere organization dedicated to the service of India.

Gokhalé, Gopāḷ Krishna (1863–1915). An Indian political leader, born near Chipḷooṇ in the W. Indian region of Konkaṇ. His influence on religious matters (via politics) was great, because he was a staunch advocate of constitutional methods and reforms for Indian Home Rule, and was of importance for Gāndhī.