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Gopal Krishna Devadhar
गोपाल कृष्ण देवधर
The disciple of Gokhale — the servant of the nation's poor
Years
1871 – 1934
Known as
Gopal Krishna Devadhar — the worker of the Servants of India Society
Birthplace
Maharashtra
Field
Social Reformers
“The service of the people is the worship of the nation — and the poor are its temple.”
— Gopal Krishna Devadhar
The Story
Born in 1871, Devadhar was drawn to the ideals of Gokhale, the great leader who believed that the service of the people was the true politics of the nation. He joined the Servants of India Society and devoted his life to its work — the service of the poor and the reform of society.
His work ranged across the nation's needs: he served in the great famine relief operations, worked for the uplift of the depressed classes, and served in education and rural welfare. He was a man of tireless energy who held no office for himself but gave everything to the people.
He died in 1934, honoured as one of the greatest servants of the nation's poor. His life — the complete gift of a brilliant man to the service of others — remains the model of the Servants of India Society's ideal.
Core Ideas
The Servants of India
The society of Gokhale he served with his life.
The Famine Relief
He served in the great relief operations.
The Depressed Classes
He worked for the uplift of the excluded.
The Selfless
He held no office, gave everything.
The Disciple of Gokhale
His life was Gokhale's ideal made real.
Why it matters today
Gopal Krishna Devadhar is honoured as one of the greatest workers of the Servants of India Society — a man who gave his whole life to the poor and the reform of society. His name remains a model of selfless service in the tradition of Gokhale, and his life is remembered as service made complete.