It is a tragedy that British termed freedom fighters like Subedar Guddemane Appayya Gowda, Sangolli Rayanna, Bhagath Singh insurgents. The historians who failed to understand it, also termed them insurgents, said MLA K G Bopaiah.
Speaking after inaugurating Subedar Guddemane Appayya Gowda Martyrs Day organised by the district administration, Kannada and Culture Department and Karnataka Arebhashe Samskrithi mathu Sahitya Academy here on Saturday, he said there were several uprisings against the British rule prior to Sepoy Mutiny of 1857. Guddemane Appayya Gowda had led an insurgency against the British.
He said that there are miscreants who try to divide the society. “Let us pledge to work towards the integrated development of the district and spread the messages of Guddemane Appayya Gowda and Field Marshal K M Cariappa.”
Kodagu district Kannada Sahitya Parishat president T P Ramesh said that those who have no knowledge about history can not create it.”
He said Appayya Gowda should not be restricted to a community. Karnataka Arebhashe Sahitya mathu Samskrithi Academy and Karnataka Kodava Academy should document the history of the district. Karnataka State Handicrafts Development Corporation Chairperson Veena Achaiah, Kodava Academy president B S Thammaiah, Madikeri CMC president Shreemathi Bangera were present.
Published 31 October 2015, 18:14 IST