Function at Aryabhushan Press

February 19, 2015 - A function was organized at Aryabhushan Press, the press started by Gokhale - on the occasion of the Death Centenary of Gokhale.

Present for the function were Dr. Sadanand More, Dr. S K Kulkarni, Ajit Nimbalkar and others. 

Dileep Padgaonkar on Gokhale

February 18, 2015 - A function was organized by Pune Congress Party - where Dileep Padgoankar spoke about the relevance of Gokhale.

Also present for this function were Abhay Chhajed, Vishwajeet Kadam, Dr. Kumar Saptarshi and others.

Function at Vashi, Navi Mumbai

February 15, 2015 - A function was organized by Marathi Sahitya, Sanskruti Va Kala Mandal and NamuGokul at Vashi, Navi Mumbai.

I spoke on Gokhale and Gandhi - the others who participated were Dhanashri Lele, who enacted some moments in the life of Gokhale - Narendra Chapalgaonkar who spoke on the relevance of Gokhale.

Freedom First February issue on Gokhale

The February issue of Freedom First - titled Diamond of India - was dedicated to Gokhale. The contributors to the issue were S V Raju, S P Aiyar, A.B Shah, Aroon Tikekar, Prabha Ravi Shankar, Godrej Dotivala and R. Srinivasan

Two-day National Seminar at Shivaji University, Kolhapur

February 3-4, 2015 - A two-day national seminar was organized bu Gandhi Study Centre at Shivaji University, Kolhapur.

I spoke on the importance of education as expressed by Gokhale - and how he cherished education as a value.

Two day National Seminar on Gokhale at Nasik

January 30-31, 2015 - A two-day national seminar was organized by Gokhale Education Society's HPT Arts and RYK Science College, Nasik on the topic "Impact of Namdar Gokhale's Thought and Vision on Modern Indian Development". 

Congress Bhavan 75 years celebrations

January 25 to January 30, 2015 - A five day celebration was organized in Pune to mark the completion of 75 years. I visited several schools and colleges and spoke on the role of Gokhale and Congress party in nation building. The enthusiastic response from the students of high school was encouraging.

The descendants of Gokhale, Lokmanya Tilak, Shankarrao More, Jedhe and Kakasaheb Gadgil were felicitated on the occasion.

Present for the function were Prithviraj Chavan, Manikrao Thakre, Mohan Prakash, Patangrao Kada, Vishwajeet Kadam and others. 

Enactment of Gandhi's Return to India

9 January 2015 - Mani Bhavan, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Sadbhavana Sangh, Mumbai Gandhi Smarak Nidhi organized an enactment of 100 years of Gandhi returns to India.

Like Gokhale, who had traveled from Pune to welcome Gandhi, I did the same for the actors Gandhi and Kasturba.

Prerana Yatra by Congress Party

9 Jan 2015 - On the occasion of the return of 100 years of return of Gandhi to India, the Congress party had organized a Prerana Yatra - a procession started from Gateway of India culminated at the Mahatma Gandhi statue - Present at the occasion were Prithviraj Chavan, Manikrao Thakre, Digvijay Singh, Mohan Prakash, Patangrao Kadam, Narayan Rane and others.

Lecture at Law College, Nasik

A lecture was organized by Gokhale Education Society's Law College in Nasik - where I spoke on the role of Gokhale in the Legislative Council.

Lecture at Bitco College, Nasik

October 31, 2014 - A lecture was organized as part of the three day national level conference on "Total Quality Management in Education" by Gokhale Education Society's Bitco College and Dr. MSG Foundation ... where I spoke on the Life and Mission of Namdar Gokhale.

Symposium on Gokhale

15 November 2014 - A symposium on Gokhale was organized by Indian Committee for Cultural Freedom, Project for Economic Education and Indian Secular Society and LiberalsIndia for Good Governance in Mumbai - where I spoke on Gokhale and his role in Communal Harmony. 

The other speakers included Dr. Aroon Tikekar, Vibhuti Patel and others. 

Gokhale Vichar Spardha

Pune International Centre - started by - Vijay Kelkar, Dileep Padgaonkar, R A Mashelkar and others - along with Pradeep Lokhande and Gynan Key Library - organized an essay competition among the rural school children - For the competition 7500 entries were received from schools in rural Maharashtra - A prize distribution and interaction with the students was organized by PIC.

Elocution Competition at Kalmadi High School

 Words Worth - an elocution competition was organized on Gokhale for the secondary and higher secondary classes - Children from different schools in Pune participated with much enthusiasm in this competition

Seen in the photograph are the prize winners.

Program at National Chemical Laboratory

A program organized by Venture Center, NCL Innovation Park on 23 August 2014

Freedom Trail by Janwani

Gokhale's house in Pune was included as part of the Freedom Trail organized by Janwani - where people could visit the homes of the freedom fighters in Pune.

Program at Nivara

9 August 2014 - A program was organized at Nivara - the organization started by Gokhale for physically challenged - also present were the descendants of other founder members - Sardar Natu, Sardar Raste and Sardar Kibe.

Exhibition at Desai College

A two-day exhibition was organized at Desai College - attended by several students of the college and outside the college

Exhibition at Kaveri College

An exhibition was organized at Kaveri College. Also seen on the dias is Dr. Rajas Parchure (Director, Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics) ... the exhibition was attended by Mrs. Malati Kalmadi (President of the Kaveri Group) and several other committee members

Exhibition at SP College

 Exhibition was held at S P College - Present on this occasion were Ulhas Pawar (Former MLA), Abhay Chhajed (President Pune Congress) and the Principal of SP College.

Exhibition on Gokhale at IT Park

Exhibition on Gokhale was held at IT Park, Bhau Patil Road, Seen in the photo is Ravi Natu, who owns the Park and organized this exhibition on the premises.

Program by Acharya Atre Pratishan

Program organized by Acharya Atre Pratisthan - Atre in his book Karheche Pani has written about his experience with Gokhale.

Exhibition at Tilak Bhavan

 Exhibition was organized at Tilak Bhavan, Mumbai, the Congress Headquarters. Present at the function were Prithviraj Chavan (Chief Minister of Maharashtra), Manikrao Thakre (President MPCC),, Sushilkumar Shinde (Ex-Home Minister), Mohan Prakash (Prabhari of Maharashtra), Sachin Sawant (Spokesperson of Congress), Harshawardhan Patil, Shivajirao Deshmukh

Exhibition at Congress Bhavan

The exhibition on Gokhale - Maker of Modern India - was held at Congress Bhavan in Pune. Seen in the picture are Abhay Chhajed (President of Pune Congress), Kumar Ketkar and Satish Desai.

Publication of Shikshan Vivek

A magazine on education called 'Shikshan Vivek' was started by Deccan Education Society. The first magazine was dedicated to Gokhale. The publication of this magazine was held at Fergusson College on 12 June 2014.

Servants of India Society

On 12 June 1905 Gokhale took the oath of the Servants of India Society along with G K Deodhar, A V Patwardhan and N A Dravid.

The descendants of Deodhar, Patwardhan and Dravid had gathered at Fergusson College to commemorate Gokhale.

The place on Fergusson College Hill where Gokhale took the oath.

Inauguration of the First Exhibition

 The inauguration of the first exhibition was held at Gokhale Institute and Servants of India Society. The exhibition was inaugurated by Dr. Sadanand More.

Also seen in the picture is the President of the Servants of India Society.

Chanchala Kodre, the Mayor of Pune was also present at the function.

Exhibition on Gokhale

Exhibition on the life and times of Gokhale ... These are about 25 standees which depict the achievements of Gokhale

Gokhale Marg - Road to Tamhanmala

The road leading to Tamhanmala from the highway has been named after Gopal Krishna Gokhale. A huge structure has been erected by the villagers. 

Gokhale's birthplace - Kotluk

House in Kotluk, the birthplace of Gokhale. According to the customs Gokhale's mother came to this house, from Tamhanmala, Gokhale was born on 9 May 1866.

The internal structures of this house have undergone change ... but the Oak family has not changed the room where Gokhale was born.

Visit to Gokhale home - Tamhanmala

 May 17, 2014 - Gokhale's house at Tamhanmala ... where the Gokhale's father Krishnarao Gokhale stayed ... The house still stands. The family members of Gokhale visited this house and held a small function in the commemoration of Gokhale.

This is the pagadi of Gokhale which he wore in his younger days.

Program by Gokhale Kul

May 14, 2014 - A program was organized by Gokhale Kul (people bearing the last name Gokhale) - attended by Vikram Gokhale (actor), Bhooshan Gokhale (Air Chief Marshall), Arvind Gokhale (Editor of Kesari) ... the program was held at Lokmanya Sabhagruha

Vasant Vyakhyanmala

May 8, 2014 - Lecture on Gokhale and Gandhi at Vasant Vyakhyanmala held every year at Tilak Smarak Mandir ... an interesting coincidence was that Gopal Krishna Gokhale had spoken in this lecture series and now it was the turn of his great grand son to speak from the same platform.

The news item that appeared in Kesari.

Program by Rani Laxmibai Mandal

 May 6, 2014 - Organized by Rani Laxmibai Mandal ... the organizers had displayed an interesting quote of Gokhale ... that talked about communal harmony.

The news of the program in Sakal - they highlighted the work of Gokhale on drought-striken farmers ... an issue which was raised by Gokhale in 1899 in his first speech in the Bombay Legislative Council.

Program in Miraj

April 22, 2014 - Program organized at Adarsh Shikshan Mandal, Miraj ... An year long events were organized in Miraj (through debates, elocution competition, poster competition, seminar) to commemorate Gokhale

Gokhale at Heritage Festival 2014

April 17, 2014 - Under the Heritage Festival organized by Virasat Pune, a tour of Gokhale Institute, Servants of India Society and Gokhale Bunglow was organized.

Kumar Ketkar on Gokhale

March 22, 2014 - Program organized by Pune Shramik Patrakar Sangh, where Kumar Ketkar spoke about the relevance of Gokhale today.

Ketkar mentioned especially about Gokhale's role in communal harmony

Elocution Competition at Sangamner

 An elocution competition was held at Gokhale Education Society's Shikshanshastra College, Sangamner on March 19, 2014. About 16 students participated and spoke on the different aspects of Gokhale. 

Program at Elphinstone College

 A program was held at Elphinstone College on 22 Feb 2014. Gokhale was an alumni of Elphinstone (this college boasts of an alumni from Justice Ranade to Dr. Ambedkar) ... noted historian J V Naik spoke on the life and times of Gokhale.

The news of the program appeared in Kesari.

Library at Congress Bhavan named after Gokhale

The Library at the Congress Bhavan in Pune was named after Gokhale. Present on the occasion are Adv. Abhay Chajjed, Mohan Joshi and others.

News of the Inauguration Function

 News in Loksatta

 News in Maharashtra Times

News in Sakal

Poster on Gokhale - Farewell to Fergusson College

One of Gokhale's remarkable speeches - Farewell to Fergusson College - on September 19, 1902. Here he mentions two important things, which can still guide several individuals and institutions -

The principal moral interest of this institution is in the fact that it represents an idea and embodies an ideal.

The idea is that Indians of the present day can bind themselves together, and putting aside all thoughts of worldly interest, work for a secular purpose with the zeal and enthusiasm which we generally find in the religion alone.

The ideal is the ideal of self-help, that we may learn slowly but steadily to rely less and less upon others, however willing to bear our burdens, and more and more upon ourselves.

Message from the Governor

The Governor Maharashtra could not attend the function but he sent a message on the occasion of the function.

He stated - The Primary Education Bill moved by him in the Imperial Council demonstrated his vision and foresight for the progress of India and its people.

Gokhale achieved far more in a life span of just 49 years. He was truly a youth icon of India.

Inauguration of Gokhale Centenary Year

The Death Centenary Year of Gopal Krishna Gokhale was held at Amphi Theatre at Fergusson College. Present on the occasion were Dr. R A Mashelkar, Shahu Maharaj (President of Deccan Education Society), Dr. Aroon Tikekar, Dr. Ajit Patwardhan, Rajas Parchure (Director, Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics) and Adv. Sunil Gokhale

 Mashelkar stated that Gokhale has worked on the topics like education and farmers which are still relevant. His thoughts and practice on spiritualization of politics seem distant from the politicians of today.

Shahu Maharaj stated that the work of the emancipation of the down trodden carried out by Gokhale and the then Shahu Maharaj needs to be continued.

Dr. Aroon Tikekar explained the role of Gokhale in the freedom struggle movement and his importance as the maker of Modern India.

Dr. Ajit Patwardhan talked about Gokhale's work in Deccan Education Society and particularly for Fergusson College. He said that Gokhale was instrumental in collecting funds, due to which the main building and hostel buildings could be built.