Ghanshyamsingh Gupte

Ghanshyamsingh Gupte's  lively intellect and intrepid nature, his devote zeal and purposeful life have a moral to teach and can adorn a tale.

In all his acts we find a broad fusion of social and political endeavor. He is seen at his best on the realm of social reform, to which his contribution has proved of permanent importance. But as a patriot he has not failed to strike the grand note. He has remained throughout his life a devout Congressman.

Mr. Gupte comes of a line of intellectual aristocrats and his Statesman like qualities are by no means exceptional to his family. His ancestor was a Subedar in Chattisgarh under the Bhosla Raja of Nagpur.

As a young man he became a fervent Congressman and engaged energetically in political activities. He organized strikes and was constantly embroiled with the authorities.

In 1907 the principal of Jubbulpore College gave a free vent to his spleen and insultingly spoke of the student activities.

Mr.Gupte could not brook the insult. He came to Jubbulpore (a.k.a. Jabalpur) and led the strike. The obstinate and anger of the Principal proved abortive. He tendered an apology and the cause of the students triumphed.

He entered the University of Allahabad where he took his M.Sc. and L.L.B. degree. He won the gold medal in the B.Sc. examination. His attention was not cribbed to the sphere of politics. He was a keen sportsman. As the captain of the College Hockey Team, he won the ashes on the field. His gift of command made him singularly popular with the students.

In 1932 he was elected unopposed to the C.P. Legislative Council. In the 1926 election he floored his opponent.

He was elected the Leader of Opposition in the C.P Legislative Council. The barbed arrows and the flow of his studied eloquence shattered his invective, the vigour of his incisive logic shattered the Treasury Bench. In 1929 he resigned his membership in obedience to Congress Mandate. He was elected to the Central Assembly and successfully piloted the Arya Marriage Bill into the Statute Book.

Mr. Gupte is the lodestar of the Vedic culture. He was the professor of Physics in the Hardwar Gurukul Academy. He is a fluent speaker in Sanskrit and even astonished Swami Shraddanand in his brilliance.

Since 1920 he is the president of the Arya Pratinidhi Sabha of Congress and Berar. Gratitude is the smallest thing that people can offer to him for his memorable deeds. He collected four lakhs (Rs. 400,000) Rupees for female education. He is now the President of the Sarvadeshik Arya Prathinidhi Sabha, it is a representative body of the Arya Samaj spread all over India and in foreign countries.

Mr. Gupte is in front rank of the social reformers. His vigorous originality and passionate sincerity have enabled him to reach the dazzling heights of fame.

In 1937 he was returned to the Congress Assembly. His legislative experience and judicious temper are unrivalled. He now rests his strong hand on the speaker's chair. He will bequeath to posterity a mighty legacy of patriotic virtues and philanthropic deeds.

Source: Haripura Congress Souvenir, 1938