International Journal of Academic Research ISSN: 2348-7666 Vol.1 Issue-3(2), September, 2014 Lingaraju, Assistant Professor in History, Government College (Autonomous), Mandya District, Karnataka State They installed an impressive Gopura 70 feet height resembling the raja Gopuras The Belgaum Congress session of 1924 of Vijayanagara temples. This session had was a momentous event and the several historical events to date. enthusiasm of the people of Bombay Karnataka region was reflected. It was the 39th session. It was held from December 26th -27th.It was the only 1. On February 5th 1924, Mahatma Congress session in which Mahatma Gandhiji was released from prison Gandhi presided. Gandhi arrived in this because he had an operation for city 6 days previous to the session appendicitis because he was to coordinate friendship between two warring factions inside the 2. The Hindu-Muslim cooperation for congress such as changers & no changers. which he had strived so zealously had The local people of Belgaum were elated nearly vanished. by the session hosting & they named the 3. With the abolition of Khilafat in venue as ‘Vijayanagara’, commemorating Turkey, no encouragement was left the mighty empire of Vijayanagara. for preponderance of the Indian www.ijar.org.in 35 International Journal of Academic Research ISSN: 2348-7666 Vol.1 Issue-3(2), September, 2014 Muslims to collaborate & work Mahatma Gandhi was taken in a together with the Hindus. procession to the Congress camp. All efforts were made to represent the 4. The Muslim League eclipsed during culture ethnicity and portentous history the Khilafat agitation found a of erstwhile Karnataka region at the breathing space once again. Thus session. with the passage of time the incongruity between the Hindus and the Muslims began to appear and The arrangements for food water topped communal riots occurred at regular the list. For the supply of water round intervals. To compensate for the sins the clock, a tank, named Pampa of his erring countrymen, Gandhiji Sarovara was constructed. It was built undertook a fast of 21 days from with a rough granite it had 10 arches for September 18 to October 8. This was water to be drawn & sluiced to end user his desperate effort to solve the points cost ine nearly 4 thousand rupees communal tangle. & the water pipelines were given 5. The Council entry programme of the connection for water connectivity which Swarajists was not welcomed by cost 9 thousand rupees. Gandhiji. But, it was impossible for anybody to bring back the masses to an active non-cooperation and To feed the delegates, a huge kitchen was therefore as sort of compromise was set up and thousands of lanterns and reached. petromax lights were brought from Bombay. Volunteers of Hindustan Seva 6. The Congressmen were given Dal, trained by N.S.Hardikar were freedom to decide for themselves looking after the arrangements and either to work for the Council entry attending the comforts of the delegates & or to carry on the constructive work other visitors outside the Council. When Mahatma Gandhi along with the The venue of the session was named Ali brothers, Sarojini Naidu, Jawaharlal Vijayanagara in memory of the great Nehru, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and a empire. The entrance gate was designed host of leaders arrived at Belgaum, they like the of the Virupaksha temple were welcomed by a mammoth crowd led at Hampi. by Gangadharrao Deshpande, the Chairman of the Reception Committee. The volunteer s camps were a special arrangement. Huts for volunteers and The Session began with the invocation the delegates were built with Khadi cloth song ‘Vande Mataram’ sung by Paluskar. and it was tied up with bamboo roofs. This was followed by two songs in www.ijar.org.in 36 International Journal of Academic Research ISSN: 2348-7666 Vol.1 Issue-3(2), September, 2014 Kannada by a choral group. Great objectives of shaking the British economy stalwarts of music like Veene Seshanna on the one hand and boosting the Indian gave their recital and Huyilagola economy on the other. The movement, in Narayana Rao sung the Kannada anthem the characteristic Gandhian mode, was completely non-violent in approach.( the session. Rahul Ramagundam Gandhi's Khadi : A History of Contention and Conciliation, Orient In his presidential address Mahatma Longman, 2008, xiv, 298 p,1-12). It was at Gandhi addressed several national the time of the Nagpur session (1920) issues such as banning of foreign goods, that the Indian National Congress encouraging spinning and weaving of decided to encourage "Khadi". The first Khadi, working towards eradication of Khadi Production Centre was established untouchability and other issues. "I am at Katiawad, Gujarat.There was a convinced that Swaraj cannot come so sporadic khadi movement in Princely long as the tens of millions of our Mysore as well.The enthusiastic people brothers and sisters do not take to the undertook setting up of khadi. charkha, do not spin, do not make khadi The Khadi Movement worked with the and wear it. twin objectives of shaking the British economy on the one hand and boosting A number of session were also held at the Indian economy on the other. The Belgaum on the occasion like the movement, in the characteristic Gandhian mode, was completely non- 1. All-India Khilafat Conference, violent in approach. Gandhi 2. All-India Hindu Mahasabha wrote. Swaraj (self-rule) without Conference, Swadeshi (country made goods) is a lifeless corpse and if Swadeshi is the soul 3. All-India Non-Brahmin Conference, of Swaraj, Khadi is the essence 4. All-India Social Conference of Swadeshi. Therefore Khadi became not only a symbol of revolution and 5. The first Karnataka Unification resistance but part of an Indian identity. conference it was chaired by Sri ( M.K. Gandhi ; Village Swaraj ; Pub. Siddappa kambali Navajan ; Ahmedabad; Page 3-14.) Karnataka people reacted positively & confidently to the call given by Mahatma Gandhi& oriented towards for It was at the time of the Nagpur session constructive several social & community (1920) that the Indian National Congress oriented programmes The spread of decided to encourage "Khadi". The first Khadi and village industries was taken Khadi Production Centre was established up all over Karnataka. The Khadi at Katiawad, Gujarat. Movement worked with the twin www.ijar.org.in 37 International Journal of Academic Research ISSN: 2348-7666 Vol.1 Issue-3(2), September, 2014 : The flame of freedom struggle was also kept alive by a host of Congressmen of The organizations for Harijan welfare Karnataka like were set up in many places of the state. The lower rungs of society were included 1. N.S.Hardikar, in the programs and there was a wide 2. Srinivas Rao Kaujalgi, participation in the Congress lead Movements. Between 1922 and 1925 3. Gangadharrao Deshpande, national leaders like C.Rajagopalachari, 4. Kadapa Raghavendra Rao, C.R.Das, Lala Lajpat Rai, S.Srinivasa Iyengar, Pattabhi Seetharamiah, 5. R.R.Diwakar, Jamnadas Mehta, Konda Venkatappiah 6. Krishna Rao Mudvedkar and and others toured all over Karnataka and others. kept the national spirit alive. The flame The authorities in Princely state of of freedom struggle was also kept alive by Mysore understood the value of spinning a host of Congressmen of Karnataka like and weaving Khadi in the scheme of rural N.S.Hardikar, Srinivas Rao Kaujalgi, development and often cooperated with Gangadharrao Deshpande, Kadapa the Congress workers in the extension of Raghavendra Rao, R.R.Diwakar, Krishna Khadi industries and other village Rao Mudvedkar and others.The Khadi industries sponsored by the Congress.The Movement worked with the twin Diwan of Mysore, Albion Banerjee not objectives of shaking the British economy only permitted the Department of on the one hand and boosting the Indian Industries to send exhibits to the economy on the other. The movement, in Congress exhibition at Belgaum in 1924, the characteristic Gandhian mode, was but also gave a donation for the expenses. completely non-violent in approach. The It lead to the Setting up of All India lower rungs of society were included in Spinners Association (AISA) / Akhil the programs and there was a wide Bharateeya Charkha Sangha in participation in the Congress lead 1935.Many small political events were Movements. Between 1922 and 1925 inspired by this session. national leaders like C.Rajagopalachari, C.R.Das, Lala Lajpat Rai, S.Srinivasa All this helped Swarajists to come back to Iyengar, Pattabhi Seetharamiah, congress fold. Jamnadas Mehta, Konda Venkatappiah : and others toured all over Karnataka and kept the national spirit alive. Mahatma Thus the visit of Mahatma Gandhi & his Gandhi used to refer to Khadi as "The presiding of Congress All Indian Congress livery of freedom". ( Kumarappa ,B. session of 1924 in Belgaum heralded as Gandhiji’s Autobiography, Pub. Navajan , a enormous march towards promotion of Ahmedabad Ch. XVI, Page 272-5.). the peasant consciousness. Even though there were some loopholes in the post The leaders Congress Session programs still there www.ijar.org.in 38 International Journal of Academic Research ISSN: 2348-7666 Vol.1 Issue-3(2), September, 2014 was a expansion of the fortitude among 1869–1893". Asian Profile (4): 353– people of this region who started 60 participating in Congress lead 2. Kumarappa ,B. -Gandhiji’s Movements on a greater scale. The Salt Autobiography, Pub. Navajan , Satyagraha of Ankola, Sirsi , Siddapura & Ahmadabad Ch. XVI Mangalore were inspired by this session. There was an awareness towards mass 3. Low, D. A., ed. (2006). Congress and involvement which precipitated huge the Raj: Facets of the Indian Struggle association of Indian in the fight against 1917 – 47. Oxford University Press. colonialism. Thus Belgaum congress pp. 60–64 acted as a catalyst in firing the flames of 4.