Gopaldas Ambaidas Desai
(1887–1951)
Political Party: Indian National Congress
Biography: Born in Savli in present-day Gujarat, Gopaldas Ambaidas Desai received his early education at Vaso and completed his secondary education in Baroda. He was a prince who ruled the State of Dhasa, now called Gopalgram, in Saurashtra. He was a prominent Gandhian political and social activist, renowned as the first Indian prince to renounce his throne to join the struggle for independence against the British Raj.
He held the title of Talukdar of Rai Sankali and Dhasa in Saurashtra and played a significant role in local governance, serving as President of the Kheda District Local Board in 1924. His involvement in national politics was marked by his leadership as Chairman of the Reception Committee for the Haripura Congress in 1938, as well as his presidency of the Kathiawar Political Conference from 1945 to 1948. Additionally, he was a member of the Saurashtra Congress Committee from 1948, the Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee from 1947 to 1948, and the Baroda Rajya Praja Mandal from 1945 to 1947.
Desai actively participated in the Indian freedom struggle, particularly in the States' Peoples' Non-Cooperation Movements of 1930 and 1942, for which he endured imprisonment.
Member of
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