As part of the centenary celebrations of Mahatma Gandhi’s 1924 visit, the Belagavi district administration has announced plans to preserve and beautify locations he visited during his week-long stay.
Deputy Director of Information Gurunath Kadabur stated that the district-level centenary celebration committee has recommended the protection, conservation, and enhancement of these significant sites.
Following this, Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Roshan instructed officials to begin the renovation and beautification of key landmarks, including Veera Soudha in Belagavi, where the 1924 All India Congress session was chaired by Gandhi, the Khadi center in Hudali village, and the Gangadhar Rao Deshpande Memorial Hall in Kanabaragi.
An initial meeting of officials has outlined the proposed works and estimated costs, which will be finalized at a state-level committee meeting chaired by Minister H. K. Patil. An inaugural event is expected to take place in the final week of December.
Committee members, including writer Sarju Katkar, Ravindra Deshpande (chairman of the Gangadhar Rao Deshpande Memorial Trust), Subhash Kulkarni (former president of the district Khadi Gramodyog Sangha), and Raghavendra Hammannavar (secretary of Khadi Gramodyog Sahakari Utpadak Sangha), have recommended installing protective railings around the statue of Deshpande in Tilakwadi first gate, completing the memorial hall in Kanabaragi, and renovating other monuments. They also suggested publishing an e-book featuring Gandhiji’s writings on the 1924 Belagavi session, resolutions adopted, and related materials, along with a printed book on plays about the freedom struggle.
M. R. Shegunashi, Superintending Engineer of Karnataka Rural Infrastructure Development Limited, was among those present at the meeting.
