Gopalhari Deshmukh 'Lokahitawadi' was a reformer and rationalist who criticized Hindu orthodoxy and advocated for social and religious equality.

Gopalhari Deshmukh: Social Reformer, Rationalist, and Advocate for Change

• Background: Gopalhari Deshmukh (1823-1892), known as 'Lokahitawadi,' was a social reformer and rationalist from Maharashtra. He served as a judge under British Raj, but he was also an influential writer and thinker.
• Advocacy for Social Reform: Writing under the pen name 'Lokahitawadi' for the weekly Prabhakar, Deshmukh advocated for the reorganization of Indian society based on rational principles and modern, humanistic, secular values. He was a vocal critic of Hindu orthodoxy and supported social and religious equality.
• Criticism of the Caste System: Deshmukh wrote extensively against the evils of the caste system, famously stating, "If religion does not sanction social reform, then change religion."
• Contributions to Journalism: Deshmukh started a weekly, Hitechhu, and played a leading role in founding several periodicals, including Gyan Prakash, Indu Prakash, and Lokahitawadi.