Spot dead, but memories remain

Noted freedom fighter and Gandhian, Dr H Sreenivasaish has chronicled the contribution of many a freedom fighter and kept a record of the historic spots in Bangalore associated with India’s independence movement. One of the foremost spots that stands out in the freedom struggle is the erstwhile ‘Bangalore Central Jail’ that is now the ‘Freedom Park’. With many citizens joining the First War of Independence that lead to curbs, resulting in large scale arrest of freedom fighters who were lodged in the Central Jail. It was built in 1866 on an area of 21 acres to accomodate the growing number of freedom fighters not only from the city but also from other places.

Although many freedom fighters died in Bangalore but there is no proper record of their sacrifice for their motherland. The Karnataka State Gazetteer says that 10 people were killed in a police firing incident at City Post Office, Balepet Circle and Cottonpet during the Quit India Movement.

The unsung heroes also included teenagers Thippaiah, Appaiah, Ponnuswamy, Srinivasan and six others while in another firing incident, Thimmanna Das died at Mysore Bank Square.

When Prince of Wales visited India on November 17, 1921, there was hartal in many important places in Karnataka including Bangalore. Two Khilafat workers died of police atrocities at Bangalore Cantonment on the 18th. Later, in 1926 four workers were killed in police firing at Binny Mills and that was the time when the independence movement had gained momentum with frequent lathi charges and firings while some died and many were jailed. Many leaders were arrested for their ‘seditious’ speeches and writings and for breaking prohibitory orders.

In a number of places around the city, a bonfire of foreign goods was organised. During the Quit India movement, when many senior leaders were jailed, it was the students and workers who held the reigns and organised processions, rallies and protests at Chiklalbagh, Bannappa Park and Malleswaram Grounds. Noted freedom fighters like H S Doreswamy, K Hanumanthaiah, Vasanthaiah, Kunthala, K S Krishna Iyer, C N Narasimaiah and many others gathered at places like Central College, BES School and the present KSRTC bus stand to hoist the national flag, sing patriotic songs and make a bonfire of British goods.

Some of them including Dr H Sreenivasaiah brought out underground newspapers, who operated in the premises of a typing institute above the erstwhile Malleswaram police station which has gone the commercial way and today it houses K P Najundi’s Gold Palace. Bangalore also witnessed the visit of many national leaders including Gandhiji, Sardar Patel, Acharya Kripalani to the city. On a nationwide tour, Gandhiji was not only actively mobilising funds but also motivating people against social problems ailing India like untouchability, religious divide and a host of other issues.

Except for two places, the Gandhi Sahitya Sangha and the Gandhi Bhavan, none of the places associated with Gandhiji’s historic visit that included his stay, prayer meetings and public meetings in Bangalore has either been properly recorded or preserved.