In today’s episode, we remember eminent freedom fighter Gopal Krishna Gokhale, who was born on 9th May 1866. A moderate political leader and a social reformer, Gokhale was a senior leader of the Indian National Congress and the founder of the Servants of India Society. Gokhale was famously a mentor to Mahatma Gandhi. Gandhiji recognized Gokhale as an admirable leader and master politician, describing him as "pure as crystal, gentle as a lamb, brave as a lion and chivalrous to a fault and the most perfect man in the political field". Recalling his first meeting with Gokhale in Pune on October 12, 1896, Gandhiji wrote: I met Gokhale. I found him on the Fergusson College grounds. Gopal Krishna Gokhale gave me an affectionate welcome, and his manner immediately won my heart. With him, this was my first meeting, and yet it seemed as though we were renewing an old friendship. Sir Pherozeshah had seemed to me like the Himalaya, the Lokamanya like the ocean. But Gokhale was like the Ganges. One could have a refreshing bath in the holy river. The Himalaya was unscaleable, and one could not easily launch forth on the sea, but the Ganges invited one to its bosom. It was a joy to be on it with a boat and an oar. Gokhale closely examined me, as a schoolmaster would examine a candidate seeking admission to a school. He told me whom to approach and how to approach them. He asked to have a look at my speech. He assured me that he was always at my disposal and sent me away exultantly happy. In the sphere of politics, the place that Gokhale occupied in my heart during his lifetime and occupies even now was and is absolutely unique. Gopal Krishna Gokhale died on 19th February 1915. We salute this great nationalist.