Gopal Hari Deshmukh

Rao Bahadur Gopal Hari Deshmukh (pronunciation) also known as Lokhitwadi (18 February 1823 – 9 October 1892) was an Indian activist, thinker, social reformer and writer from Maharashtra. His original surname was Shidhaye. Because of 'Vatan' (right of Tax collection) that the family had received, the family was later called Deshmukh. Deshmukh is regarded as an important figure of the Social Reform Movement in Maharashtra. Gopal Hari Deshmukh was born into a Chitpavan Brahmin family, a member of Maharashtrian Brahmins, in 1823. He is a descendant of Vishwanathpant Sidhaye, a Deshmukh who held a vatan of many villages. Before adopting the surname 'Deshmukh' and settling in Pune, their family name was 'Sidhaye' and was native of Konkan. His father was the treasurer of Bapu Gokhale, the general of Bajirao II during the Third Anglo-Maratha War. Deshmukh studied at the Poona English Medium School.