Gopal Krishna Gokhale (1866-1915), a liberal leader of the Indian National Congress, founded the Servants of India Society in 1905 with the help of M.G. Ranade.
The aim of the society was to train national missionaries for the service of India; to promote, by all constitutional means, the true interests of the Indian people; and to prepare a cadre of selfless workers.
In 1911, the Hitavada began to be published to project the views of the society. The society chose to remain aloof from political activities and organizations like the Indian National Congress.
Servants of India Society