Freedom fighters celebrate triumph of democracy

Take a trip to Mysore Chalo movement

Members of the Freedom Fighters’ Association gathered at the Subbarayanakere Grounds, here, on Monday, to commemorate the Mysuru Chalo movement, when 13 districts of Karnataka, in the then princely state of Mysore, became Independent. The district administration had organised the function in a symbolic way, however, on November 16 elaborate programmes will be organised.

Not many know that Mysuru and other 12 districts - Mandya, Chamarajanagar, Hassan, Ramanagar, Bengaluru Urban, Bengaluru Rural, Tumakuru, Kolar, Chikkamagaluru, Shivamogga, Davangere and Chitradurga - got Independence on October 24.

Mysore princely state was ruled by the Wadiyar kings under the paramountcy of the British. On August 15, 1947, when India gained Independence from the British Raj, princely states had two options - to join the Indian Union or declare themselves independent. Dewan Arcot Ramasamy Mudaliar advised maharaja Jayachamaraja Wadiyar against accession despite the general population’s support for joining the Indian Union. The maharaja signed the Instrument of Accession, but rejected the Mysore State Congress’ demand for establishment of a democratic government.

However, it has to be noted that democracy was not new to Mysore. The Mysore Representative Assembly was inaugurated in 1881 itself by the Wadiyar kings, during the rule of Tenth Chamaraja Wadiyar, four years earlier to the birth of the Indian National Congress.

Kyasamballi Chengalaraya Reddy and Deshamudre Mallappa had founded the Praja Paksha in 1930. It became Praja Samyukta Paksha in 1934 and soon joined the Mysore State Congress. The aim of the Praja Paksha was to establish a ‘responsible’ government.

K C Reddy called for the launch of a Satyagraha ‘Mysore Chalo’. On September 1, 1947, Reddy listed the demands of the Satyagraha at Subash Nagar, in Bangalore (now Bengaluru).

The demands were proclamation of the formation of a democratically accountable government; formation of an interim ministry and establishment of a constitutional committee of around 25 persons for drafting of a state constitution; and release of all political prisoners. Over 40,000 people were witness to Reddy’s speech and unfurling of the Indian Union flag. Reddy mobilised the people of Mysore, calling upon them to march to the Palace. On the first day of the Satyagraha, a mile-long procession of men, women, and students marched to the town hall in city. Villagers from all nine districts (now 13) of Mysore, as well as supporters from out of state, began marches toward the city to urge the maharaja to relinquish his throne and establish a democratic government.

On September 4, 1947, police arrested Reddy and other Congress leaders. Arrests of protesters and police brutality agitated the crowd, and efforts to force the maharaja to establish a democratic government intensified. Many marchers never succeeded in reaching the city, but they ensured that the act of marching in itself was a significant display of will.

The government imposed curfew in major cities, censored many daily newspapers, and closed schools. During a student protest at Maharaja’s College, police forces moved in to disperse a peaceful protest. One officer fired at the crowd, killing a student. On September 6, 1947, police opened fire at protesters attempting to break into the Palace, killing one person. In response to the incident, the government clamped a 48-hour curfew on the city. The same day, police overcame crude roadblocks set up by protesters in Malleswarm, at Bangalore, and opened fire at agitated crowds, killing two people. Over the course of the campaign, police firing had killed over 20 people.

The Indian Union had set September 14, 1947, as the deadline for rulers of princely states to join. On that day, the Mysore State Congress called upon the people to intensify their protests. Despite police efforts to prevent protesters from reaching the Palace and new groups from entering the city, crowds persisted in marching through the streets, picketing law courts, barricading main roads, and displaying the national flag.

On September 19, 1947, city police officers in Bangalore went on a strike in support of Mysore Chalo and marched from station to station, imploring their colleagues to join them. On September 25, 1947, 8,000 workers in two of Mysore’s four gold mines abruptly stopped work.

Protesters continued flooding the city. Rural areas of the state rejected the maharaja’s right to rule and began setting up their own parallel governments. Losing the support of both the police and the labourers and in face of massive protests by the people, the maharaja announced the establishment of a new democratic government on October 24, 1947.

Thus, Reddy was sworn in as the unofficial chief minister of the state of Mysore on October 27, 1947. He served as chief minister of the interim ministry till the elections of 1952.

The untold story of Ramaswamy Circle

The intersection of the Jhansi Lakshmi Bai Road and Chamaraja Double Road, which was known as five-light junction, is now well-known as Ramaswamy Circle in the city, reports DHNS from Mysuru.

Ramaswamy, a young student, fell to the bullets of the police during the Mysore Chalo movement. On September 9, 1947, when police opened fire at the agitators, three persons were killed. One of them was Ramaswamy, who resided near Subbarayanakere. Ramaswamy was a student of Hardwick High School and was on his way home when he was caught in the crossfire. The other two victims were Tooranayak and Ranga.

The circle was named after Ramaswamy as per the wishes of the freedom fighters and his family members. In the late 50s, a memorial was installed at the site.