Which of the following leaders did Mahatma Gandhi regard as his political guru and mentor in public life?

Introduction / Context:
Many questions in modern history and Indian national movement test a candidate's knowledge of relationships between important leaders. One such famous relationship is that between Mahatma Gandhi and Gopal Krishna Gokhale. Gandhi described Gokhale as his political guru, meaning the person who guided and influenced his political thinking and methods in public life. This question checks whether the learner can identify that specific mentor among a list of prominent figures associated with Gandhi's era.

Given Data / Assumptions:
- The focus is on Mahatma Gandhi and his political guru. - The options list several leaders and associates from the freedom struggle period. - Only one of them is widely recorded as being acknowledged by Gandhi as his political guru. - We assume familiarity with Gandhi's early political career and the moderate leadership in the Indian National Congress.

Concept / Approach:
Gopal Krishna Gokhale was a senior leader of the Indian National Congress and a prominent moderate who believed in constitutional methods, dialogue, and gradual reforms. When Gandhi returned to India from South Africa, he sought guidance from Gokhale and regarded him as his political mentor. Gandhi has explicitly written about this in his writings. Other names listed, such as Mahadev Desai, were close associates or secretaries, while leaders like Dayanand Saraswati, Acharya Narendra Dev, and Bal Gangadhar Tilak influenced broader ideological currents but were not described by Gandhi in the same way as his political guru. Recognising this subtle yet important detail is key to answering correctly.

Step-by-Step Solution:
1. Recall that Gandhi returned to India in 1915 and was advised by Gopal Krishna Gokhale to travel across the country to understand Indian conditions. 2. Gandhi admired Gokhale's commitment to service and his moderate, reformist approach within the Congress. 3. In his autobiographical writings, Gandhi referred to Gokhale as his political guru. 4. Compare this with the roles of other figures listed: Mahadev Desai as personal secretary, Dayanand Saraswati as a religious reformer, Acharya Narendra Dev as a socialist leader, and Bal Gangadhar Tilak as an assertive nationalist. 5. Conclude that the correct answer is Gopal Krishna Gokhale.

Verification / Alternative check:
A quick verification method is to recall standard history textbooks, which highlight the mentor mentee relationship between Gokhale and Gandhi and mention that Gandhi was deeply influenced by Gokhale's public life and ideals. Some books mention a comparison where Gokhale is described as a teacher whose moderation and patience guided Gandhi even though Gandhi later adopted more mass based, non violent strategies. This consistent portrayal in multiple sources confirms that when a question asks about Gandhi's political guru, the answer is Gopal Krishna Gokhale and not any other contemporary leader.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Mahadev Desai was Gandhi's personal secretary and a very close associate, but Gandhi did not refer to him as his political guru. Dayanand Saraswati was a religious and social reformer who founded the Arya Samaj; his work predated Gandhi's main political activities and he was not Gandhi's direct political mentor. Acharya Narendra Dev was a leader associated with socialism and later Congress Socialist Party and was not Gandhi's guide when Gandhi entered Indian politics. Bal Gangadhar Tilak was a prominent extremist leader in the Congress and a strong influence in the freedom movement, but Gandhi did not describe Tilak as his political guru.

Common Pitfalls:
Some candidates mix up ideological influences and formal mentorship, believing that any major nationalist leader could be called Gandhi's guru. Others mistakenly select Bal Gangadhar Tilak because of his strong personality and his title Lokmanya, thinking Gandhi would naturally regard him as a mentor. Another confusion arises between religious and political guidance, leading some to choose Dayanand Saraswati. To avoid these mistakes, it is important to remember the exact phrase used by Gandhi and the specific context of his relationship with Gopal Krishna Gokhale when he first entered national politics.

Final Answer:
Mahatma Gandhi regarded Gopal Krishna Gokhale as his political guru in public life.