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December 24, 2024
By Manjunath K. Shresthi
The 39 th annual Congress session holds significance, as it was the only time when Bapu presided over as the President on December 26-27, 1924, in Belagavi.
The place currently known as ‘Veer Soudha’, and it was dedicated to the nation by then former and Late Chief Minister of Karnataka, S. M. Krishna on April 29, 2002. It houses a bust of Mahatma Gandhiji, a well, a library, a well-laid out garden and a hall. One can see old photos of the session that was held there, and other memorabilia of Gandhiji forming the subject matter of interest.
The apostle of peace ‘Bapuji’ was reverentially addressed as the Mahatma, and he truly was a “Satya aur ahimsa ka dhoot” (meaning am ambassador of truth and non-violence). And to quote another Gandhian, “Bapu, could have been born only in India”. Because of his visionary leadership and the path he laid, that many Indians heeded to his call to fight against the imperial British. The fight between Mahatma and the British can aptly be called “Soul force vs Fist force”.
Veer Soudha holds significance as the Indian National Congress (INC) on January 11, 2023, started the Prajadhvani bus yatra from the same location. The entire top brass of the party was then present. The bust of “The Father of the Nation” was garlanded by AICC General Secretary, Karnataka in charge, along with KPCC President D. K. Shivakumar, who’s now the current Dy. Chief Minister of Karnataka. The Congress party swept the assembly elections held the same year in May 2023.
Belagavi, in northwest Karnataka witnessed the annual winter session at the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha, early this month. The city now wears a festive look, and getting ready to celebrate the historic occasion. The entire city is lit up and cut outs have become the cynosure of all eyes. All roads now lead to the ‘Veer Soudha’ on Congress road in south Belagavi’s Tilakwadi area.
*October 02 nd is annually celebrated as Gandhi Jayanti in India and across the globe.
Click January 11, 2023 link below to read about the: Congress starts Bus Yatra from Veer Soudha in Belagavi
