Gandhi and Belgaum

Some people had told Gandhiji not to attend the Belgaum(now Belagavi) session in 1924. But Gangadhar Rao Deshpande wanted Gandhiji to attend the session to give a new fillip to the freedom movement in the region. 

Veer Soudha is the memorial built to commemorate the 1924 congress session held at Belgaum where Mahatma Gandhi was the president of the Congress.

Mahatma Gandhi had first visited the city in 1916 and later in 1924 when he presided over the Congress committee session. Prior to the Veer Soudha, there is a plaque in the railway station premises, which also lists the visits of Mahatma to the city during the peak of the freedom struggle.

1916 April 29 – May 1

Sessions of Bombay Provincial Conference at Belgaum. Gandhi supported resolution on compromise among political parties in the country following amendment of Article XX of Congress constitution in 1915.

1916 April 30

Spoke at Belgaum on “The Depressed Classes”.

1924
December 18

Left Ahmedabad for Belgaum.

December 20

Reached Belgaum.

December 21

Spoke in reply to welcome address by the Belgaum Municipality and the District Board.

December 23

In Belgaum, A.I.C.C formed itself into Subjects Committee with Gandhiji as president and appointed a sub-committee with 16 members to draft e3 endorsing Calcutta Agreement.

December 25

In Belgaum at Subjects Committee meeting Gandhiji appealed to No-changers to have faith in swarajists.

December 26

The Indian National Congress began its 39th session under Gandhiji’s presidentship. Gandhiji delivered the presidential address and spoke on the resolution endorsing Calcutta Agreement.

There is also the Gandhi Smarak next to Shivaji Garden on Shama Prasad Mukherjee road. 

In 1937 Gandhiji had stayed at Hudali village about 25 kms from Belagavi for a week.

Leaders like Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Sarojini Naidu, Rajendra Prasad, Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan, and Kasturba Gandhi also came to Hudli along with Gandhi in 1937.

Inspired by Gandhian ideologies of self-reliance, the residents of Hudli have taken the khadi industry to new heights. Freedom fighter Gangadhar Rao Deshpande Karnataka Kesari’, had brought Gandhi to Hudli— turned the village into a khadi gram and since then, khadi production here has gained momentum.
bullock carts were arranged from Suldhal station but Gandhi refused and walked all the way along with his followers from Suldhal to Hudali.

Khadi Gramodyog Utpadak Sangh (KGUS) was estyaglished at Hudli in 1954

Way back in 1927, Gandhian Gangadhar Rao Deshpande started a khadi unit at Kumari ashram near Hudali. This was the first khadi unit in Karnataka. Deshpande was given the title ‘Khadi Bhageeratha of Karnataka’. Deshpande went from village to village to create awareness about the khadi movement. This work was later continued by Pundalikji Katagade.

Gandhiji’s ashes are interred in Mugut Khan Hubballi.