There were quite a few leaders of the Indian Liberal Federation in their time but not many who had imbibed the genuine spirit of western liberalism and integrated it with their native tradition. Sastri was unique in this. He joined the Servants of India Society, and succeeded Gokhale as the First Member. He assisted Gokhale in his work. He founded the National Liberal Federation (1918), opposed non-cooperation and the two-nation formula of Jinnah. He promoted the civil status of Indians in South Africa and championed the rights of Indians in Kenya and East Africa.

He was given the title of .Right Honorable. because he was a member of the Viceroy.s Privy Council.