Belagavi
Independence day is celebrated every year on August 15 at 7 am at Veera Soudha in the city, which played a key role in bringing freedom to the country. All the dignitaries who come to the city visit this soudha. The history has made its mark in the freedom struggle.
The city’s soil has a special connection in the freedom struggle and has witnessed many sacrifices. The 39th session of the Indian National Congress was held in 1924 at this place in Vijayanagar, then in present-day Tilakwadi. The place also has the distinction of being the first and only session presided over by Mahatma Gandhi. The Veera Soudha has now been built on the ground that witnessed the session and was developed as a memorial in 2002. A temporary railway station was also constructed for the people attending the session.
It was built by several soldiers led by freedom fighter RH Kulkarni. The statue of Mahatma Gandhi and the reliefs of great leaders are attracting visitors. Many photos of a very rare, historic moment are collected here. A well was dug for drinking water for the agitators who had come to the session. It is popularly known as the Congress Well and is still a testimony to the struggle of that time.
An amount of Rs. Rs 4,370 and 3 annas was spent at the same venue to arrange water for the 30,000 people who had gathered for the rally. The well was named Pampa Lake. I was 4 years old when the session took place, which I could not see first-hand, said Rajendra Kalaghatgi, a freedom fighter, centenarian, said, recalling the time of the freedom struggle.
