In Mysuru, social reforms helped shape freedom struggle

The Congress focused more on temple entry movement, removing untouchability, and education

The patriotic spirit and verve being rekindled to mark the 70th Independence Day on Sunday had a different flavour during the freedom struggle in the old Mysuru region where the focus was on social and political reforms which helped shape public opinion towards attaining freedom.

The Mysore Gazetteer notes that the early nationalistic sentiments were infused by the writings that appeared in the media which highlighted the activities of the Indian National Congress and tracked the political development pertaining to independence movement.

But there was no mass movement anywhere in the princely State and the first such signs of any political awakening were witnessed at the end of the First World War and came to fore at the death of Bal Gangadhar Tilak in 1920.

There were spontaneous processions of mourning, according to the gazetteer which underlined the growing nationalistic sentiments in a princely State which was insulated from the tyranny of the British imperialism cushioned as the people were, by the benevolent rule of the Maharajas.

But the organised movement gained traction after the Nagpur session of the Indian National Congress held in 1920 following which the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee was established throughout the State. Bonfires of foreign goods and clothes were lit in Mysuru.

The focus of the Congress was more towards social reforms and it was spearheaded by leaders like Tagadur Ramachandra Rao who started the Khaddar Sahakara Sangha at Tagadur in 1925.

Temple entry movement, efforts to eradicate untouchability, importance to education, dhwaja satyagraha etc gained momentum and the visit of Mahatma Gandhi to Mysuru district in 1927 (and in 1934) galvanised the public. The opposition to the Simon Commission echoed in Mysuru and Tagadur Ramachandra Rao was arrested for demonstrating in 1928, thus becoming the first political prisoner of modern Mysuru, according to the gazetteer.

The other prominent leaders included M.N. Jois, Agaram Rangaiah, Sahukar Channaiah, H.C. Dasappa, etc.

The 1942 Quit India movement saw a surge in student activity and there were series of satyagrahahas in the city as the seeds of nationalism sown two decades ago had flowered to shape public opinion in favour of Independence.