In the context of the Indian national movement, who is generally credited with first addressing Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi by the honorific title “Mahatma”?

Introduction / Context:
This question focuses on a well known anecdote from the Indian freedom struggle concerning Mahatma Gandhi. The word Mahatma, meaning great soul, became permanently attached to Gandhis name, but it was not his birth name or a formal title. It was an honorific given out of respect and admiration. Knowing who first used this title helps you connect important personalities of the national movement and understand how Gandhis moral stature was perceived by his contemporaries.

Given Data / Assumptions:
- The person in question is Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, later known as Mahatma Gandhi.
- The question asks who first addressed him as Mahatma.
- The options list several major leaders and personalities: Rabindranath Tagore, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Lala Lajpat Rai, Gopal Krishna Gokhale and Sarojini Naidu.
- We assume familiarity with the fact that this title reflected Gandhis moral and spiritual influence rather than any constitutional post.

Concept / Approach:
According to widely accepted tradition and many history sources, Rabindranath Tagore, the Nobel Prize winning poet and thinker, first referred to Gandhi as Mahatma around 1915. The title reflected Gandhis selfless service, simple lifestyle and moral leadership during the early stages of his public work in India. Other leaders deeply respected Gandhi, but the specific credit for first using this honorific is commonly given to Tagore. The correct approach is to match the famous association Tagore Mahatma Gandhi with the question.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that Gandhi returned to India from South Africa in 1915 and began working closely with Indian leaders and the people. Step 2: Remember that Rabindranath Tagore, already a renowned literary figure, recognised Gandhis spiritual and moral leadership. Step 3: Many accounts state that Tagore was the first to publicly address Gandhi as Mahatma, a title that quickly became popular. Step 4: Consider the other options: Tilak, Lala Lajpat Rai, Gokhale and Sarojini Naidu, all of whom admired Gandhi but are not usually named as the first to use this term. Step 5: Based on this widely reported tradition, select Rabindranath Tagore as the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
Several biographies of Gandhi and Tagore mention that Tagore coined or at least popularised the title Mahatma for Gandhi. While some historians note that it is difficult to prove the absolute first use in every context, exam oriented general knowledge consistently attributes the first use to Tagore. In competitive exam keys and standard question banks, when this question appears, Rabindranath Tagore is given as the correct answer, providing a strong basis for your choice.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Bal Gangadhar Tilak: A senior nationalist leader who admired Gandhi but is not typically credited with coining the title Mahatma for him.
Lala Lajpat Rai: Another important leader who worked with Gandhi, yet sources do not identify him as the first to use the title.
Gopal Krishna Gokhale: Gandhis political mentor in many respects, but he died relatively early and is not recorded as the person who first publicly used Mahatma for Gandhi.
Sarojini Naidu: She gave other famous descriptions of Gandhi, such as calling him the little father of the nation in playful affection, but not as the first to use Mahatma.

Common Pitfalls:
Because many leaders admired Gandhi deeply, students may guess any famous name from the period. Another confusion arises from the fact that people quickly adopted the title, making it seem like a spontaneous public label rather than one coined by a specific person. However, for exam purposes, Rabindranath Tagore is the accepted answer. Keeping the simple association Tagore first called Gandhi Mahatma will help you recall the fact correctly.

Final Answer:
Rabindranath Tagore is generally credited with first addressing Gandhi as Mahatma.