Belagavi was Gandhi’s favourite haunt

Belagavi: Belagavi district is one of the geographic areas that contributed significantly to the Indian freedom movement. According to the records in Hindalaga Central Jail, more than 2,060 freedom fighters were jailed during the 1942 Quit India Movement. This is why Mahatma Gandhi liked this area the most and visited the district six times during his lifetime.
Freedom fighters, especially from Belagavi, Gokak, Bailhongal, and Chikodi, played a key role in the freedom movement. Initially, most freedom fighters, including Gangadhar Rao Deshpande, were followers of Bal Gangadhar Tilak. They became followers of Gandhi after Tilak died in 1920.
Hindalaga Jail was built in 1930, and records of the freedom fighters are available from then onwards. Freedom fighters like Govindarao Yalagi, Baburao Thakur, BY Deshpande, and Vaman Kalaghatagi in Belagavi, Gangadhar Rao Deshpande, Vamanrao Biradar, Pundalikaji Katakar, and Somalingappa Malagali from Gokak, Srirang Kamath from Bailhongal, and Mirji Annarai from Chikodi are the notable names.
In the 1942 movement, seven freedom fighters—Rajappa Hebbal, Ramappa Dodamani, Gurudasappa Belagavi, Siddappa Sattigeri, Dattu Mhatade, Shivappa Hireholi, and Shivalingappa Kotambari—died in police firing. They gave new energy to the freedom movement.
Visits of Mahatma Gandhi
Mahatma Gandhi visited Belagavi six times between 1916 and 1937. His first visit was in 1916 when he was accompanied by Bal Gangadhar Tilak. He stayed in the city from April 27 to May 1. His second visit was on Nov 8 and 9, 1920, when he campaigned for the freedom movement.
He chaired the Congress National Session held in Belagavi in 1924. He arrived a week before and remained there until Dec 31. In 1927, Gandhi was in Belagavi on April 18 and 19 to meet party leaders.
In 1934, he visited Nippani and stayed at the residence of Sevantibhai Shah on March 7. From there, he walked towards Maharashtra via Shedabal and Mangasuli.
In 1937, he camped for a week in the Kumari Ashram in Hudali from April 16 to participate in the ‘Gandhi Seva Sammelan'. Gangadhar Rao Deshpande presided over the sammelan. Kumari Ashram is one of the six Gandhi Ashrams in the country. Vallabhabhai Patel and Rajendra Prasad accompanied him. During the same period, the wedding of one of Gandhi's granddaughters was held in the Ashram. After that, he stayed for one day at Murgod and later for four days in Mangalawar Peth in Belagavi city.