The Statue of Gandhi's Mentor in Chennai

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Gopal Krishna Gokhale was a freedom fighter and social reformer. He was a senior leader of the Indian National Congress, and Mahatma Gandhi considered Gokhale, his mentor. Gokhale was the founder of the Servants of India Society.


What was Gokhale's connection with Chennai? Apart from his few public speeches in the city, I am not sure about any other link. However, like Gandhi, few in Chennai considered Gokhale, their mentor. V. Krishnaswami Aiyer was prominent among them. The senior and leading lawyer of the High Court, Aiyer, became very close to Gokhale. Whenever Gokhale visited Chennai, he stayed in Aiyer's bungalow, known as the "Ashrama".


V. Krishnaswami Aiyer was the first Indian to have a statue on Marina Beach Road. His statue stands in front of the Senate House on the Madras University Campus. Next to this statue, Aiyer's professional mentor, Sir S. Subrahmanya Aiyar's statue is found. The next figure is Gopal Krishna Gokhale, the political mentor of Krishnaswami Aiyer.


Who erected the statue of Gokhale, and when was it erected? I am not sure. I assume it might be after 1935.


Happy travelling.






Visit my site, krishnakumartk.com, to know more about the travel guides and other books that I have written.


Location: Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India

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