Freedom fighter, H S Doreswamy, who was part of the freedom movement in Bengaluru, still remembers the thrill he received on seeing Mahatma Gandhi for the first time at the National High School grounds, Basavanagudi and climbing the Nandi Hills twice a day to get a glimpse of him. But his favourite leader was the country’s first Prime Minister , Jawaharlal Nehru , who was a bigger crowd- puller than even Gandhiji, he recalls. Excerpts from an interview:
Q: Can you name some of the places in Bengaluru, which have a connection with the freedom struggle ?
Dharmabuddhi kere, the present Majestic and city railway station, Banappa Park, Chikkalalbagh, Kumara Krupa, Malleshwaram and State Bank of Mysore were some of the places associated with the freedom struggle. Freedom fighters would assemble here and discuss their plans to free India.
Q: Did any of the national leaders like Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru visit Bengaluru?
Gandhiji and Nehru visited Bengaluru on many occasions. Gandhiji visited the National High School, Yeshwanthpur and stayed for a long time at Kumara Krupa and the Nandi Hills. Nehru visited Dharmabuddhi kere and hoisted the national flag, which was brought down and the flag post removed by the then administrators. But the Binny Mill workers pooled in money, built a new flag post at the same place and Nehru once again came down to hoist the flag.
Q: How was the information about the freedom struggle disseminated those days ?
(Laughs) We did not have social media or smartphones for quick dissemination of information. Those days, the major tool of information was the Press. We spent a lot of our time reading magazines and newspapers and it was from them that we received information about the freedom struggle and meetings that were to be held. We also got information word of mouth. People walked and cycled for miles to pass on information relating to the freedom struggle.
Q: When was the first time you saw Mahatma Gandhi?
I saw Mahatma Gandhi for the first time when he came to the National High School in 1927. When he was unwell, he camped at Nandi Hills for treatment and it was then that I stayed at my relative's place at Chikkaballapur and climbed up the hill twice, once in morning and again in the evening, to take part in Gandhi's Prarthana Sabhas, admiring him and deriving inspiration from him.
Q: Who is your favourite national leader?
I like Nehru for many reasons. He was my favourite. He was well educated and a great orator. People used to go crazy just to have a glimpse of him passing by in his car. He was a bigger crowd puller than Mahatma Gandhi.
Q: What message do you want to share on India’s 72nd independence day?
The young should wake up and take responsibility and fight for issues bothering the nation. They should stop thinking that the government is responsible for everything and take the responsibility themselves to become the power of change. Corruption has to be rooted out and the 'big fish' caught instead of the small clerks.
