9th May is the birth anniversary of Gopal Krishna Gokhale. 2023 marks his 157th birth anniversary.

Gopal Krishna Gokhale was an Indian social reformer, educationist, and great patriot.
He was born on 9th May, 1866 at Kotluk village in present-day Maharashtra (then part of the Bombay Presidency) to Krishna Rao Gokhale and his wife Valubai.

Gokhale was a professor and then principal of the Ferguson College, Pune. Gokhale was Gandhi’s mentor and a leader of the 'moderate' faction of Indian Natinal Congress. He played an important role in bringing about Morley-Minto Reforms, the beginning of constitutional reforms. 
In 1905 he founded the Servants of India Society.

Between 1899 and 1902, Gopal Krishna Gokhale was a member of the Bombay Legislative Council followed by work at the Imperial Legislative Council from 1902 till his death (1915).

At the Imperial legislature, Gokhale played a key role in framing the Morley-Minto reforms of 1909.
In 1907, the Indian National Congress had been divided into two factions. The moderate faction was led by Gopal Krishna Gokhale. Bal Gangadhar Tilak was the leader of estremistgroup. 

He started English weekly newspaper, The Hitavada.

Gopal Krishna Gokhale is regarded by Mahatma Gandhi as his political guru.

Gopal Krishna Gokhale was the president of Indian National Congress Session in Banaras in 1905.

On his death in 1905 Bal Gangadhar Tilak called him ‘Diamond of India.’