Who among the following was popularly known as ‘Lokahitwadi’ ?

Gopal Hari Deshmukh (1823–1892) was a prominent social reformer, rationalist, and thinker from Maharashtra who was popularly known by the pen name 'Lokahitwadi' [1]. He earned this title while writing for the weekly 'Prabhakar', where he published powerful rationalist attacks on Hindu orthodoxy and advocated for social equality [1]. His collection of articles, known as 'Lokhitawadinchi Shatapatre', focused on reorganizing Indian society based on modern, humanistic, and secular values. Deshmukh was a staunch critic of the caste system and a supporter of women's education and emancipation [1]. While other figures like Mahadev Govind Ranade and Gopal Krishna Gokhale were also influential reformers in Western India, the specific epithet 'Lokahitwadi' (meaning 'one who seeks the welfare of the people') is uniquely associated with Gopal Hari Deshmukh [1].

Sources

1. [1] Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 9: A General Survey of Socio-Cultural Reform Movements > Gopalhari Deshmukh 'Lokahitawadi' > p. 215