Servants of India Society:
Tensions between the Pune-based Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics (GIPE) and parent Servants of India Society (SIS) have flared again, with both trading allegations over control of a key bank account.
- The Servants of India Society (SIS) was founded by Gopal Krishna Gokhale, along with K. Devadhar, A.V. Patwardhan, and N.A. Dravid, in Pune, Maharashtra, on June 12, 1905.
- According to Gokhale, the society’s objectives were to train individuals who were willing to devote their lives to the country’s cause in a religious spirit, for political education and agitation and to promote the national interest of the Indian people through constitutional means.
- The members of the society were considered as young missionaries of Indian nationalism.
- Several young Indian nationalists, including S. Sreenivasa Sasthri, Hriday Nath Kunzru, and A.V. Thakkar, enrolled as a member of the SIS.
- Members go through a five-year training period and agree to serve on extremely modest salaries.
- In 1915 Gokhale was succeeded as president by Srinivasa Sastri (1869–1946).
- The organization has its headquarters in Pune (Poona) and branches in Chennai (Madras), Mumbai (Bombay), Allahabad, Nagpur, and other locales.
- Though the number of members has dwindled over time, the society has been influential in its demonstration of the ideals of social service.
