🏛️ History & Art-CultureUPSC 2008British Policies in India

Who among the following rejected the title of Knighthood and refused to accept a position in the Council of the Secretary of State for India?

aMotilal Nehru
bM. G. Ranade
cGopal Krishna Gokhale
dBal Gangadhar Tilak Modern History 125
✓ Correct answer: c) Gopal Krishna Gokhale
ExplanationGopal Krishna Gokhale (1866–1915) was a moderate nationalist, social reformer, and one of the founding leaders of the Indian National Movement.He was a mentor to Mahatma Gandhi and played a key role in influencing early nationalist politics.The British government offered Gokhale the title of Knighthood and a position in the Council of the Secretary of State for India but he chose to decline both honors.His refusal was based on his commitment to India's self-governance, as he believed accepting such honors would mean complicity with colonial rule.He was a strong advocate of constitutional reforms and gradual political progress, promoting Swaraj (self- rule) within the British Empire.256

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