Who among the following rejected the title of Knighthood and refused to accept a position in the Council of the Secretary of State for India?

Gopal Krishna Gokhale was a leading moderate in the Indian National Congress and founder of the Servants of India Society, committed to social reform and constitutional methods of struggle [1]. Beyond his work as an educationist and conciliatory politician, he declined honours and direct collaboration that might compromise his nationalist stance: he refused the offer of a seat on the Council of the Secretary of State for India and turned down the title of knighthood. This stance reflected his commitment to independent public service and to maintaining moral distance from colonial patronage, distinguishing him from other contemporary leaders who accepted British honours or official posts.

Sources

1. [1] Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 9: A General Survey of Socio-Cultural Reform Movements > The Servants of India Society > p. 216