Question

Disucss the methods, adopted by Gopal Krishna Gokhale to achieve his political objectives.

Answer 1

Gopal Krishna Gokhale was not only a prominent political leader but also a leading moderate nationalist of his time. He adopted peaceful and constitutional methods to achieve his political objectives.

1. He believed in constitutional agitation and always used petitions, resolutions, and discussions to present Indian demands before the British government.
2. As a member of the Imperial Legislative Council, he gave powerful speeches, asked questions, and criticised unjust economic and administrative policies to bring reforms.
3. He emphasised the creation of educated public opinion. For this purpose, he founded the Servants of India Society in 1905 to train workers for national service.
4. He adopted the method of persuasion. He believed that political progress could be achieved by convincing liberal-minded British statesmen through reason and moral force.
5. He also used economic analysis as a method to expose the drain of wealth and the poverty of Indians, hoping to influence British policymakers.
6. Gopal Krishna Gokhale also guided younger leaders like Mahatma Gandhi and promoted peaceful, constitutional and reformist methods to achieve national political objectives.