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.
Happy Gandhi Jayanti ….
Jai Hind
Mahatma Gandhi continues to inspire men and women of goodwill across the Planet.
Thank you Mr gajendra deshpande please can you share us more information it would be of great help. Regards.
Thank you Mr gajendra deshpande please can we get more information it would be an real help. Regards.
Many have forgotten the great man LAL BAHADUR SHASTRI who was also born on 2nd OCT..
JAI JAWAN JAI KISAN..
He was poisoned to death for political gains…
Hope each of us have respect to our father of the nation in our hearts and follow his teachings rather than being kannadiga or marathi be a true Bhartiya…happy Gandhi Jayanthi always a proud Indian..
Yes, I am proud to say that I too belong to hudali. I was born in the place (house) where mahatmaji stayed for three days. I am Vinayak Shripad Deshpande.
गाँधी जी के दो बार बेलगाम आने और उसके प्रयोजन के बारे में जानकर प्रसन्नता हुई ।
बेलगाम हिंदी , मराठी , कन्नड़ और अंग्रेज़ी आदि बोलने वाले सभी लोगों का है और हम सभी को इसी परम्परा को आगे बढ़ाते रहना है।
FYI,Gandhiji,during this session had told that,”Belgaum is integral part of karnayaka,and even tried to sign in Kannada”.!!!
GOD BLESS YOU… NITIN
Nitin, get well soon.
When Mohandan Gandhi visited Belgaum, there was no Maharashtra or Karnataka. Belgaum was part of Bombay Presidency. You may refer wiki article on it.
Maratha empire was till Tanjavur in the southern India.
The majority population of Belgaum was and is Marathi speaking!!!
Nitin, Whats the relevance of this article and your trolling? Aaj ka khana hajam karne ke liye koi our site nahi mila ki yahan aake troll karna jaroori tha? Get a life man!
Unfortunately Abdul too fell for it. I wont say if I am marathi or kannada, although I have very strong views on it. Thats not the point of this article. I atleast hope that Belgaum citizens have the least numbers of trolls atleast 😉
Historical fact, well put.
Happy Gandhi Jayanti… Jai Hind….
Some other facts related to Mahatma
Gandhiji visited Belgaum 1916 and He met Lokamanya Tilak for the first time
Gandhiji presided 39th congress session in 1924, which was the only session he presided.
Gandhiji visited my village Hudali in 1937, for Annual conference of Gandhi Seva Sangh. Gandhiji’s grand daughter Manu Gandhi’s wedding ceremony was conducted at Hudali village Belgaum
Nice trivia.
I had commented on similar post on same blog. two years ago.
Gandhiji’s reply was not related to 1924 session.
It was related to the conference held at Belgaum in 1916.
The letter was written before April 29, 1916
Source: Collected Works of Mahatma Gandhiji
Nice Info provided Sir….. Jai Hind…
Happy Gandhi Jayanti