1. Gopal Krishna Gokhale was known as the Socrates of Maharashtra.
2. He was recommended the KCIE – Knight Commander of the Indian Empire which he refused.
3. He criticized the shortcomings of the Council Act of 1892 and the imposition of production tax on cotton.
4. In 1902 when he was taken in the Central legislative Council he worked hard to :
i) Abolish the salt law
ii) Introduce compulsory primary education.
iii) Include Indians in higher posts.
iv) Reduce government expenditure.
v) Protect Indian industries.
5. He was successful in reducing toll tax.
6. In 1905 he protested the partitioning of Bengal as the President of the INC and supported the Boycott movement.
7. As a teacher and economist he understood the plight of the poor and demanded fiscal reforms by reducing land revenue.
8. In 1905 he set up the Servants Society of India to organize a group of selfless patriots.
9. He joined the Deccan Education Society set up by Justice M.G. Ranade.
10. He understood the importance of making village panchayats and other local bodies effective units of self administration.
11. In 1906 he was sent to England to enlighten the British how Indian sentiments were hurt due to the Partition of Bengal.
12. He had a major role in passing the Morley-Minto reforms.
13. He served as a member of the Public Service Commission from 1912-15.
14. He edited a quarterly journal’Sudharak’ of the Poona Sarvajanik Sabha.
15. In 1912 Gokhale went to South Africa where he worked with Gandhi and was successful in bringing Gandhi back on the Indian political scene. For this Gandhi accepted him as his political mentor. Gokhale also demanded relief for Indian bonded labour in Natal.
16. He stood for cooperation and reconciliation. He was a nation builder and described as ‘he was neither weak no fiery. He was a realist in politics and a practical idealist.’ Tilak described him as ‘diamond of India, the jewel of...