The place where Gandhiji visited and gave a speech during his only visit to Udupi on February 25, 1934, is now a park. There is a bust of Gandhiji in the midst of the park and a radio tower also stands close to it.
Vinith Rao, researcher and in-charge of Gandhian Study Centre at the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial College here, told The Hindu that Gandhiji had come to Udupi as part of his tour for collection of funds for the uplift of the weaker sections of society and also to promote temple entry for people of weaker sections through a consensus. Another object was to collect funds for the relief of persons affected by floods in Bihar.
Gandhiji toured the coastal region in a car. But since there were many rivers and rivulets in between, he and his car were ferried in a barge, then called ‘jungal’ and taken from one bank of the river to another. He was welcomed in Udupi at around 3.30 p.m. by philanthropist Haji Abdulla Saheb.
After inaugurating a ‘Khadi Bhandar’ at Kadabettu here, he went to the Ajjarkad ground to deliver a speech. Nearly 3,000 people attended the event as per a report in the Kannada weekly ‘Rashtra Bandhu’.
In his speech, which was reported in The Hindu on February 28, 1934, and also published in the ‘The Collected Works of Mahatma Gandhi’ (Volume 57), Gandhiji urged the people to create public opinion for opening temples for weaker sections.
But, he emphasised that the opinion can only be formulated by the gentlest of means. Gandhiji also pointed out in his speech that Lord Krishna had turned himself to give “darshan” to saint-composer Sri Kanakadasa at the Sri Krishna Temple here. He also emphasised on the removal of untouchability.
This speech of Gandhiji in Udupi has also been reported in the journal ‘Harijan’ dated March 9, 1934. Gandhiji received a donation of Rs. 1,240 here.
Gandhiji then left for Kundapur the same day and addressed a public meeting there also and spoke against untouchability. He participated in prayer meeting in Kundapur on February 26, 1934, which was a Monday and Gandhiji used to observe silence on that day. “On February 27, 1934, Gandhiji left Kundapur for Karwar in a steamer named ‘Dayavati,” Mr. Rao said.
Since this was the only visit of Gandhiji to Udupi, a plaque should be erected at the Bhujanga Park, where Gandhiji gave a speech. “Besides the plaque, a small museum could be constructed there with some photographs taken during Gandhiji’s visit to Udupi,” Mr. Rao said.
