Gokulbhai Bhatt
Born 19 February 1898 · Rajasthan
Died 6 October 1986
Served as a member of the Constituent Assembly of India representing Bombay State.
🔔 Add birthday reminderGokulbhai Daulatram Bhatt was a freedom fighter and a social worker from Rajasthan state in India. He was a member of Constituent Assembly of India representing Bombay State and chief minister of princely Sirohi state for a brief period. He was born in Hathal (Sirohi).
✨ A detail that surprised us
Despite being from Rajasthan, Gokulbhai Bhatt represented Bombay State in the Constituent Assembly, highlighting his pan-regional political engagement during India’s formation.
1. 🌟 In 1939, Gokulbhai Bhatt co-founded the Praja Mandal in Sirohi on January 22, marking a bold step against princely state autocracy in Rajasthan.
2. He endured imprisonment during British rule for his active role in India’s independence movement, symbolizing his unyielding resistance in Sirohi district.
3. As a member of the Constituent Assembly representing Bombay State, Bhatt was a vocal advocate for decentralization and local democracy, pushing for empowered village panchayats during the 1946-1950 constitution debates.
4. After independence, Bhatt fiercely opposed the division of Sirohi district, successfully ensuring that Mount Abu remained part of Rajasthan instead of being handed over to Gujarat.
5. Awarded the Padma Bhushan in 1971 and the Jamnalal Bajaj Award in 1982, Bhatt’s work on social reform and empowerment of backward classes gained national recognition.
6. In the Emergency of 1975-77, Bhatt was arrested for his vocal protest and led a satyagraha inside jail alongside leaders like Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, earning the nickname 'Gandhi of Rajasthan.'
7. ❓ How did Bhatt’s brief tenure as chief minister of the princely Sirohi state influence his approach to state politics and social reforms in post-independence India?
Awards & Honours
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🔍 One thing most people don't know
In 1939, Bhatt and seven others established the Praja Mandal at Sirohi, a political move that directly challenged princely state authority at a time when such activism was rare in Rajasthan.
🖼️ Through the Years
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📅 The Journey
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🎥 Speeches & Recordings
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📖 Curated Sources
🌱 What changed because of them
Gokulbhai Bhatt’s resistance to the division of Sirohi district preserved Mount Abu within Rajasthan, shaping the state's present boundaries. His advocacy for local self-governance influenced debates on decentralization in India’s Constitution. His satyagraha during the Emergency inspired later democratic activism in Rajasthan.
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