Topic: Servants of Indian Society (భారతీయ సమాజ సేవకుల సంఘం)

 

Topic: Servants of Indian Society (భారతీయ సమాజ సేవకుల సంఘం)

Context:

• Part of Socio-Religious Reform Movements (SRRM).

• Discussed after other major movements like Brahmo Samaj, Arya Samaj, Ramakrishna Mission, Theosophical Society, Young Bengal.

Foundation:

1. Founder: Gopal Krishna Gokhale (గోపాల కృష్ణ గోఖలే).

   • Context: Known as Mahatma Gandhi's political guru (గాంధీజీ యొక్క రాజకీయ గురువు).

2. Year: 1905 (Very Important - marked **).

3. Place: Poona (Pune) (Implied, common knowledge, though not explicitly stated in the clip).

4. Gokhale's Background:

   • Initially a member of the Deccan Educational Society (దక్కన్ ఎడ్యుకేషనల్ సొసైటీ), founded by G.G. Agarkar.

   • Gokhale's Political Guru: M.G. Ranade (ఎం.జి. రనడే) - Ranade helped Gokhale establish the Servants of Indian Society.

5. Book on Gokhale: Mahatma Gandhi wrote "Dharmatma Gokhale" (ధర్మాత్మ గోఖలే) about him.

Purpose & Nature of the Society:

• Aim: To train national missionaries for the service of India; to promote the true interests of the Indian people by constitutional means.

• Function:

  • Trained members ("Servants") for social service (సాంఘిక సేవ).

  • Training Duration: 5 years.

  • Focus: Service to all sections of society (అన్ని రకాల వర్గాలకి), including relief work during natural calamities and famines (ప్రకృతి వైపరీత్యం, కరువు కాటకం).

• *Key Characteristic: The First Secular Institution (మొట్ట మొదటి లౌకిక సంస్థ) in the context of SRRM in India.

  • It was not tied to any specific religion (Hindu, Muslim, Parsi, Sikh etc.) unlike many other reform movements of the era. Its primary focus was social service.

Publications Associated with the Society:

1. Hitavada (హితవాద):

   • The official organ/newspaper of the Servants of Indian Society.

   • Language: English.

   • Place of Publication: Nagpur (నాగపూర్).

   • Purpose: To train members and propagate the society's ideals.

   • Also known as "People's Paper" (according to Spectrum, mentioned by the speaker).

2. Clarification on Sudharak (సుధారక్):

   • This newspaper belongs to G.G. Agarkar (అగార్కరే), not Gokhale, despite some books suggesting otherwise.

Important Members (Besides Gokhale):

1. N.M. Joshi (ఎన్.ఎం. జోషి): Narayan Malhar Joshi (నారాయణ్ మల్హర్ జోషి).

   • 1911: Founded the Social Service League (సోషల్ సర్వీస్ లీగ్) in Bombay.

     • Speaker Connection: Same year Bhagya Reddy Varma founded Adi-Hindu Social Service League.

   • 1920: Founded AITUC (All India Trade Union Congress) in Bombay (*Very Important).

     • Trap Question 1: Founder of AITUC = N.M. Joshi.

     • Trap Question 2: First President of AITUC = Lala Lajpat Rai (లజపతిరాయ్).

   • Father of Indian Trade Union Movement: This title belongs to Narayan Meghaji Lokhande (నారాయణ మేఘాజీ లోఖండే), who worked for workers' rights earlier (1890s), not N.M. Joshi.

2. H.N. Kunzru (హెచ్.ఎన్. కుంజ్రు): Hridayanath Kunzru.

   • 1914: Founded Seva Samiti (సేవా సమితి) in Allahabad (అలహాబాద్).

   • Later a member of the Fazl Ali Commission (States Reorganisation, 1953).

   • Associated with the Kunzru Committee leading to the establishment of NCC (National Cadet Corps).

3. Sriram Vajpayee (శ్రీరామ్ వాజ్పేయి):

   • 1914: Founded Bombay Boy Scouts Association (బాంబే బాయ్స్ అండ్ స్కౌట్స్ అసోసియేషన్).

     • Purpose: To teach service (సేవ) ideals to students.

     • Global Context: Inspired by the Scout movement founded by Baden-Powell (బాడెన్ పావెల్) in London.

Future Topics Mentioned:

• The lecture series will continue with:

  • Veda Samaj (వేద సమాజ)

  • Dharma Sabha (ధర్మ సభ)

  • Other minor figures/movements (e.g., Behramji Malabari - బహ్రంజీ ఎల్ మలబారీ).

  • Muslim, Parsi, Sikh reform movements.

  • Then, Indian National Congress (INC) formation, Moderates vs. Extremists, Revolutionaries (Bhagat Singh etc.), Governor Generals, 50 Biographies.