In 1899, Gopal Krishna Gokhale was elected to the State Council.
The people had forgotten the apology episode and the government no more carried grudge against him. The people voted for him because of his brilliant presentations of India’s case before the commission in England. The people expected Gokhale to perform with the same brilliance in the State Council for their cause. The government too had started to respect him for his oratory skills.
The old bitterness against him was gone.
Gopal Krishna Gokhale was now very purposeful and keyed up as the representative of the people. Ranade was always there to guide him and to give the benefit of his wisdom.
Being a youngman he emerged as the most vocal and active member of the State Council. During the council deliberations Gokhale would play a lead role and present his cases forcefully to the rulers. He became a star of the house easily.
Gokhale took special interest in the three projects of the State council:
1. Famine Code
2. Land Transfer Law
3. The working of Municipal Committees.
The Famine Code already was there no one had thought of effectively implementing it and making the public aware of its existence. Gokhale reminded government of the need to apply it whenever required. The help to famine affected began according to the provision of this law but the government was not sparing enough funds for the relief measures.
Gokhale suggested that instead of the monetary help the famine affected people must be helped in setting up cottage industries which took lesser manual labour. The starved people used to be too weakened to be able to work in the fields.
Thus, his name came to be associated with the Famine Code and all those who suffered in the famine conditions appreciated his work.
During his tenure Bombay suffered several other calamities like plague epidemic, Hindu-Muslim riots and Crawford Scandal which made the life of the citizens miserable. In such cases the authorities took no action. The administration would just be a spectator showing no concern. For the British all such happening were private affairs of the natives in which the aliens had no stake and no interest.
The government had little sympathy for the people.
With his debating skills he won points and several concessions for the people. The logical aspect of his oratory had the cutting edge. He was an astute analyst, sweetly eloquent and non-egoist.
He never confined himself to the debates of the State Council only. He was too talented to remain trapped in one slot only. His social works continued.
And in the process he kept growing. In the field of the spread of education his inputs were valuable. On the political scene his stature was going up.
In imperial legislative assembly
In January, 1901 Mahadev Govind Ranade died. It was a staggering blow to Gokhale. He had become a political orphan. For him Ranade was like father, mentor, guru, guide and beacon.
It took a great effort from him to get out of the mood of depression.
Later, he wrote a letter to Ferozeshah Mehta in which he revealed to him his feelings and wishes. He had requested that he be given a chance to serve in the Supreme Council. Gokhale at that point of time was about to retire from the service of the Ferguson College. Ferozeshah Mehta knew well the spirit of commitment, dedication and service of Gokhale.
And his capabilities required no testimony. Mehta felt that Gokhale was the best candidate for the task.
Although there were a lot of other aspirants yet Mehta approved the claim of Gokhale. He persuaded other candidates to withdraw and Gokhale was elected unopposed.
In 1902, Gopal Krishna Gokhale became the member of the Imperial Legislative Council. He got unanimously elected three times more to serve as the member. He accomplished several landmark legislative endeavours during that period.
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