Question

Who among the following was popularly known as 'Lokahitwadi'?
1. Gopal Hari Deshmukh
2. Mahadev Govind Ranade
3. Gopal Krishna Gokhale
4. Jyotiba Phule

Answer 1

Correct Answer - Option 1 : Gopal Hari Deshmukh

The correct answer is Gopal Hari Deshmukh.

• Gopal Hari Deshmukh is Popularly known as 'Lokhitwadi'.
• He wrote the famous ‘shatpatre’ (100 Letters).
• He emphasized national regeneration through social reform & modern education.
• He said, “If religion does not sanction social reform, then change the religion".

Mahadev Govind Ranade	He was a social reformer and one of the founding members of the Indian National Congress. He was one of the founders of the Widow Marriage Association in 1861. He founded the Poona Sarvajanik Sabha which was a socio-political body and later was one of the originators of the Indian National Congress.
Gopal Krishna Gokhale	He was a great social reformer and educationist who provided exemplary leadership to India's freedom movement. He established the Servants of India Society in 1905 for the expansion of Indian education. In 1908, Gokhale founded the Ranade Institute of Economics. He started an English weekly newspaper, The Hitavada (The people's paper).
Jyotiba Phule	Jyotirao Phule, better known as Jyotiba, was also a social reformer who worked in the field of women's education. He led the movement against the prevailing caste-restrictions in India. In 1873, Jyotiba Phule formed the Satya Shodhak Samaj (Society of Seekers of Truth).