Who of the following is known as Lokahitavadi ?

Gopal Hari Deshmukh (1823–1892) was a prominent social reformer from Maharashtra who is widely known by the pen name 'Lokahitavadi' (meaning 'one who seeks the public good'). He earned this title through his influential writings in the weekly 'Prabhakar', where he published a series of 108 essays known as 'Shatapatre' [t1]. These essays advocated for social reform, rationalism, and the modernization of Indian society. While other figures like M.G. Ranade and G.K. Gokhale were also instrumental in the socio-political awakening of Western India, the specific epithet 'Lokahitavadi' is uniquely associated with Deshmukh [t1][t2]. He was a pioneer in promoting female education and challenging the rigid caste system and religious superstitions of the 19th century, laying the groundwork for subsequent reformers like Jyotirao Phule [t3].

Sources

1. [1] https://ia803406.us.archive.org/6/items/in.ernet.dli.2015.150521/2015.150521.Mahadev-Govind-Ranade---A-Biography_text.pdf