Colossal carelessness of Maddur authorities

Mysuru, NT Bureau: The Satyagraha Soudha at Shivapura, constructed in 1979 to commemorate the Dhwaja Satyagraha and the sacrifices of our freedom fighters, is located on the Mysuru-Bengaluru highway in Maddur taluk of Mandya district.

Unfortunately, it remains neglected without any maintenance by the authorities concerned. Those commuting on the Mysuru-Bengaluru highway cannot miss this monument, which marks a landmark movement in the state’s history during India’s freedom struggle.

This monument, even today, stands as a testimony to the sacrifice of the thousands of freedom fighters who freed the country from British rule.

The Soudha was constructed during the tenure of D Devaraj Urs as chief minister of the state in 1979, in memory of the contributions of freedom fighters like HK Veerannagowda, Koppada Jogigowda and Sahukar Chennaiah.

This Soudha, which was inaugurated in the presence of Kengal Hanumanthaiah, now remains neglected and without proper maintenance.

Historian Prof Kalachannegowda recalls that the historic Dhwaja Satyagraha was held in the small village of Shivapura in Maddur taluk of Mandya district in 1938. Inspired by a similar event in Haripur, Gujarat, that same year presided over by Subhas Chandra Bose, the village also planned to hoist the tricolour.

He noted that T Siddalingaiah of Kolar, who was the then president of the Indian National Congress in Mysore state, met Mahatma Gandhi and sought permission to organise such an event and hoist the national flag. Initially, it was planned to be held in Nanjangud or Srirangapatna, as they had good railroad connectivity.

However, British authorities got wind of the planned Dhwaja Satyagraha and issued orders banning public meetings in the state.

Undeterred, Congress leaders continued to plan the protest, eventually deciding to hold it at Shivapura. The three-day event began on April 10, 1938. Siddalingaiah and other leaders reached the venue at 10 pm.

Despite prohibitory orders and the deployment of about 600 policemen around the village to stop the flag hoisting, nearly 38,000 people gathered the next morning in support and unfurled the national flag.

Siddalingaiah, HK Veerannagowda, Koppada Jogigowda, Sahukar Chennaiah and others were arrested by the British at Shivapura during those days. Since its inauguration in 1979, the Soudha, which highlights the sacrifice of freedom fighters in Maddur, was only open to school students visiting on educational trips.