News: Tensions have flared between the Pune-based Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics (GIPE) and parent Servants of India Society (SIS) over control of a key bank account.
About Servants of India Society (SIS)
- Founders: 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, India, on June 12, 1905.
- Objectives: Its 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.
- Prominent members: Several young Indian nationalists including S. Srinivas Shastri, Hriday Nath Kunzru, and A.V. Thakkar enrolled as members.
- Later M. K. Gandhi also became a member of Society under guidance of Gokhale.
- Headquarter: The organization has its headquarters in Pune (Poona) and branches in Chennai (Madras), Mumbai (Bombay), Allahabad, Nagpur among other places.
- Presidents: G. K. Gokhale remained its president from 1905-1915, followed by V. S. Srinivas Shastri (1915-1927) and Gopal Krishna Devdhar (1928-1936).
- The Society began publishing the Hitavada, its english-language journal from Nagpur, in 1911.
- In 1930, the society established the Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics, Pune.
- Post-Independence work
- The SIS continues to be an active organization today, more than a century after its establishment.
- While some of its activities have evolved and changed over time, the SIS remains committed to its original mission of promoting education, social reform, and political freedom in India.
