The correct answer is (d). Gopal Krishna Gokhale had commanded Mahatma Gandhi to spend his first year in India ‘with his ears open but his mouth shut’.
Gopal Krishna Gokhale was a prominent Indian social reformer and politician who was one of the leaders of the Indian National Congress. He was a mentor to Mahatma Gandhi and had a profound influence on his thinking. Gokhale believed that India needed to achieve self-government through peaceful means and that it was important for Indians to learn about Western education and culture. He also believed that Indians needed to work together to improve their social and economic conditions.
Gandhi arrived in India in 1891 after completing his studies in England. He was initially overwhelmed by the poverty and social injustice that he saw in India. Gokhale advised Gandhi to spend his first year in India observing and learning about the country before becoming involved in political activity. Gandhi took Gokhale’s advice and spent the next year traveling around India, meeting with different people and learning about their lives. This experience had a profound impact on Gandhi and helped to shape his views on Indian society and politics.
Gandhi’s decision to spend his first year in India ‘with his ears open but his mouth shut’ was a wise one. It allowed him to gain a deep understanding of Indian society and culture, which was essential for his later work as a social reformer and politician.