The destiny of modern India was shaped, in a large measure, by the many lovers of freedom who lived and laboured for the country about the turn of the last century. It was in this era of political and intellectual ferment that young Gokhale came under the influence of another great patriot, Ranade.
In 1905, at the age of 39, he was elected President of the Indian National Congress. The same year Gokhale founded the Servants of India Society to train and raise a band of national missionaries for the service of the country. When he said," Love of country must so fill the heart that all else shall appear as of little moment by its side", he had faith in his country's ultimately destiny. Gokhale accepted Gandhiji's method of passive resistance as legitimate, but only as a last resort. He toured South Africa at Ganhiji's instance, and his efforts brought a measure of success to the long-drawn struggle of the Indian settlers.
Gokhale passed away on 19th February, 1915. As a political realist Gokhale believed that representative institutions should grow from below. He was a great constructive force in the public life of his time. In him there was a harmony, typical Indian, between thought, word and action. Not a dogmatist, he lived his religion. His style was fluent and limpid; his manner suave image of truth, full of humanity, one who called nothing his own.
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