ABSTRACT
Govind Babaji Joshi Vasaikar was a Chitpavan Brahman, and gave his profession as a public speaker in the service of the Maharaja of Baroda. His Marathi 'diary', describing the third Indian National Congress, was printed in Baroda in 1888 by the Baroda government press, indicating sponsorship of the book by the State. Joshi's diary brings us a perception of the unity of India and at the same times its cultural diversity as expressed by an articulate nationalist Indian writing in Marathi. He was an enthusiastic propagandist with clear leadership potential among Marathi speakers. His journey as a delegate to the Madras session of the Indian National Congress began on 17 December 1887 and ended with his return to Baroda on 21 January 1888. Joshi's first public meeting after the Madras Congress was arranged by a Maharashtrian Munsif of the District Court. The social events in Madras for the delegates were evidently a part of the Congress's solidarity exercise.
