Mangaluru: Gandhi's first visit to Karnataka remembered

[email protected] (CD Network)
May 8, 2015

Mangaluru, May 8: A programme was organised by Department of Information and Public Relations, Dakshina Kannada in the city on Friday, to commemorate the centenary of Mahatma Gandhi’s first visit to the state in May 1915.

The Father of the Nation visited Karnataka for the first time on May 8, 1951.

Speaking on the occasion, Principal of Badriya P U College, Mangaluru Dr N Ismail said that the principles and ideas taught by the ‘Mahatma’ were relevant in India even today.

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On returning to India from South Africa in 1915, Gandhi visited Madras and at the request of noted Kannada scholar D V Gundappa, he made a short visit to Bengaluru on May 8, 1915 to unveil the portrait of Gopala Krishna Gokhale – his political guru. Gandhi took a rail from Madras to Bengaluru, where he was garlanded and honoured on the platform by local Gujarati merchants. This was his first visit to the princely state of Mysore. It is said that Gandhi had made 14 visits to Karnataka during his life, he said.

He said that Gandhi’s visits influenced a lot of people during the Indian freedom movement. He was also a friend of Sir Mirza Ismail, who was the then-Diwan of Mysore under the Wodeyars.

During his second visit to Karnataka in 1917, Gandhi came to Belgaum to inaugurate the Bombay State political conference, and again visited Karnataka in August 1920 to address a public conference as part of the Khilafat movement. During 1927, he undertook a statewide tour of Karnataka as part of a campaign to promote Khadi, and again visited the state during the Civil Disobedience Movement in 1930. He also toured Karnataka as part of Harijan upliftment programmes.

Mr Ismail said that his visits to various parts of Karnataka brought about social awareness among the downtrodden and untouchables. Gandhian values will never die. Gandhi had once said that it was not the untouchables that had to be cleansed but the minds of people belonging to upper castes, he noted, exhorting people to encourage love towards others.

Speaking after inaugurating the programme, Kannada Sahitya Parishad president Pradeep Kumar Kalkura said that the people of India had to carry forward the values and morals preached by Mahatma Gandhi to the next generation. “India is a democracy which has witnessed several wonders throughout its history – including a farmer or a tea-seller becoming the Prime Minister, a woman becoming the Prime Minister or a barrister who successfully led the freedom struggle. All the citizens pledging to live in harmony, based on self-reliance and building a nation on his ideals is the best tribute we can give the Father of the Nation,” he said.

Information Officer Khader Shah welcomed the gathering on the occasion.

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News Network
December 2,2025

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Bengaluru: 'Nati koli saaru' (country chicken curry) considered one of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s favourites along with steaming hot idlis was on the breakfast menu at Deputy CM D K Shivakumar’s residence on Tuesday, according to official sources.

The spread also included 'nati koli' fry, vada and pongal, among other items, they said.

In an apparent show of unity, Siddaramaiah visited Shivakumar’s residence for breakfast, just days after the two leaders shared a meal amid a simmering power tussle in the state Congress.

Siddaramaiah drove to the Deputy CM’s residence in Sadashivanagar, where he was received by Shivakumar and his brother D K Suresh, who is a former Congress MP.

Suresh and Kunigal MLA H D Ranganath, a relative of Shivakumar, joined them for breakfast, which featured a mix of vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes.

Speaking to reporters later, Siddaramaiah said Shivakumar had invited him during his visit to the CM’s residence for breakfast on Saturday.

Asked about the difference between the two meals, the chief minister said, "At his (Shivakumar’s) house it was non-veg, while at my house it was veg. He is a vegetarian, I am a non-vegetarian. I had not prepared non-veg. I told DK to get chicken from the village as you won’t get the original in Bengaluru."

Shivakumar said he had initially invited Siddaramaiah to his residence, but the CM had suggested visiting his place first and reciprocating later. "It was a vegetarian breakfast at the CM’s house on Saturday," he noted.

"Today, I invited him (the CM) to my house. He enjoyed the breakfast, which had his Mysuru taste," Shivakumar added. At this point, Siddaramaiah remarked that Shivakumar’s wife is also from Mysuru.

Saturday’s breakfast at Siddaramaiah’s official residence, held as part of efforts by the Congress high command to ease tensions in the leadership dispute between the two, reportedly included idlis and sambar, according to official sources.

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News Network
December 3,2025

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Mangaluru, Dec 3: A group of Congress workers gathered at the Mangaluru International Airport on Wednesday to welcome AICC general secretary K C Venugopal, but the reception quickly turned into a display of support for Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar.

Venugopal arrived in the city to participate in the centenary commemoration of the historic dialogue between Mahatma Gandhi and Narayana Guru. The event, organised by the Sivagiri Mutt, Varkala, in association with the Mangalore University Sri Narayana Guru Study Chair, is being held on the university’s Konaje campus.

KPCC general secretary Mithun Rai and several party workers had assembled at the airport to receive Venugopal. However, the moment he stepped out, workers began raising slogans backing Shivakumar.

The university programme will be inaugurated by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

This show of support comes just a day after Siddaramaiah remarked that Shivakumar would lead the government “when the high command decides.” The chief minister made the comment after a breakfast meeting at Shivakumar’s residence—another public display of camaraderie between the two leaders amid ongoing attempts by the party high command to downplay their leadership rivalry.

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News Network
December 15,2025

Udupi, Dec 15: What was meant to be a post-pilgrimage gathering turned tragic in Padukere village of Brahmavar taluk, Udupi district, late Sunday night, when a clash among youths escalated into a fatal assault, leaving one man dead.

The victim has been identified as 30-year-old Santosh Mogaveera, a resident of Padukere.

According to preliminary information, the incident took place during a late-night drinking party involving a group of local youths who had recently returned after completing their pilgrimage to the Sabarimala shrine. An argument reportedly broke out among the group and soon escalated into a violent confrontation.

During the ensuing brawl, Santosh Mogaveera was allegedly assaulted and collapsed at the spot after sustaining serious injuries. He was rushed by local residents to a private hospital in Brahmavar, where doctors declared him dead.

On receiving information, senior police officials, including Brahmavar Circle Inspector Gopikrishna, Kota Police Sub-Inspector Praveen Kumar T, Station ASI Manthesh Jabagoudar, and head constables Pradeep and Ashok, visited the spot and conducted an inspection.

Police have taken four youths into custody in connection with the incident. A case has been registered at the Kota police station, and further investigation is underway to ascertain the exact sequence of events leading to the death.

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