On the first day of the Karnataka winter session, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah unveiled the logo for the “Gandhi Bharat” program at Suvarna Vidhan Soudha in Belagavi on Monday. This year-long initiative marks the centenary of the 1924 Congress session held in Belagavi, which was presided over by Mahatma Gandhi. The official program will begin on December 26 and run until October 2, 2025.
The centenary celebrations will feature a variety of events across the state, with a focus on educating people, especially the youth, about Gandhi’s life, struggles, and his key principles, including non-violence, truth, economic ideas, Swaraj, and the fight for the eradication of untouchability. The 1924 Belagavi Congress session holds historical significance as the only session chaired by Mahatma Gandhi.
A two-day event will take place in Belagavi on December 26 and 27, and a series of programs will be held throughout the state leading up to October 2025. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah emphasized that the goal is to raise awareness about Gandhi’s contributions to India’s freedom struggle and his impact on the country’s social and cultural fabric.
Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, along with other prominent leaders such as Speaker U.T. Khadar, Council Chairman Basavaraj Horatti, and several state ministers, attended the unveiling.
Visit to Gandhi-Related Sites in Belagavi
Following the logo unveiling, Deputy Chief Minister Shivakumar and ministers Satish Jarkiholi and Lakshmi Hebbalkar visited key sites related to Gandhi’s visit to Belagavi district. These included the Veera Soudha, the venue of the 1924 Congress session, the Gandhi Bhavan in Peeranwadi village, and the Gangadhar Rao Deshpande Memorial on Kanabaragi Road. The officials reviewed the preparations for the upcoming celebrations at these historic locations.
Shivakumar confirmed that the Congress party, alongside the state government, will organize the centenary celebrations, which include a Congress Working Committee meeting at Gandhi Bhavan on December 26, followed by a public meeting on December 27. A photo exhibition showcasing Gandhi’s message will also be held at Gandhi Bhavan in Peeranwadi. Additionally, the government plans to develop the sites Gandhi visited in Karnataka.
Among those present at the event were MLA Asif (Raju) Sait, former MLA Anjali Nimbalkar, Deputy Commissioner Mohammed Roshan, and Superintendent of Police Bheemashankar Guled, along with other officials.
