The Swadeshi Movement in Chitradurga

The people of Chitradurga did not lag behind in their Swadeshi sympathy and support towards political aspirations of the people movement in British India . On the evening of 29th December, 1931, a mammoth meeting was held in Chitradurga which was addressed by Shri Hardekar Manjappa. At this meeting Shri D. S. Mallappa of Tiptur spoke on the necessity of responsible Government in Mysore . The members of the Khadi Vastralaya at Davangere started propaganda work by distributing pamphlets and by means of writing on the walls. The public were requested to encourage only swadeshi articles. On the morning of 21st January 1932, Kasala Srinivasa Setty, Bellada Siddalingaiya and Sivagan-gaiya of the Khadi Vastralaya accompanied by volunteers visited several foreign cloth shops and requested the dealers not to sell foreign cloth. They came to an agreement with the cloth merchents, that the existing cloth should be kept back, and no fresh consignment of foreign cloth should be received. During March 1932, foreign cloth was collected and burnt at Davangere.

The district was in the grip of political activities in 1936-37. On 26th January 1937, the students of Chitradurga High School and Middle Schools went on strike and took the independence pledge. In the same year, Dr. N. S. Hardikar and Mrs. Umabai Coondapur, with some other leaders toured the Chitradurga district, enlisting support for the Congress cause. In the course of his lectures at Davangere and Molakalmuru in the second week of May 1937, Dr. Hardikar explained the aims and objects of the Indian National Congress and said that the people of Mysore who were said to be free under the Maharaja were not really free and that His Highness was at the mercy or the British and so the State subjects were slaves doubly. He appealed to the people to join the Congress. In order to prevent his further tours in the district, the Government restrained his activities. The First Class Magistrate, Chitradurga, passed an order directing Dr. Hardikar to abstain from making any public speeches within the limits of the taluks of Chitradurga, Hosadurga, Challakere, Molakalmuru and Jagalur for a period of two months.

In August 1937, the Congress flag was hoisted in Chitradurgn town by Shri S. Nijalingappa in the compound of Shri Jayadeva Hostel. On that day, a meeting was held in the premises of the Khadi Vastralaya under the chairmanship of Shri Nijalingappa, where resolutions were passed protesting against the repressive policy of the Government.

Courtesy : Gazetteer of India, Chitradurga District, 1967.