BELGAUM: “Only death can prevent me from visiting Belgaum” — these were the words of Mahatma Gandhiji, after a few Congress leaders tried to make him change his decision on his first visit to Belgaum with Lokmanya Balagangadhara Tilak in 1916.
His third visit to Belgaum was for the 39th Indian National Congress session on December 26 and 27, 1924.
It was because of the efforts of Gangadhararao Deshpande that Belgaum got the distinction of holding the session. In 1923, during the 38th Congress session at Kakinada, Deshpande, Saifuddin Kitchlew and Jawaharlal Nehru were the general secretaries.
It was at the same time when Deshpande proposed to hold the next session in Karnataka. Mohammed Ali, who was the president of the session, gave the nod.
Meanwhile Gandhiji, who was in Yerwada Jail at Pune during the 38th session, fell sick due to an appendix problem and underwent an operation.
During the same time, violence broke out between Hindus and Muslims making him depressed. When Congress workers approached him to invite him to preside over the 39th session, he said, "I will think over it." A meeting was held in Hubli where a place was to be identified for the 39th session.
At the meet, Karnad Sadashivarao suggested Mangalore, Deshpande suggested Belgaum and Congress workers of Dharwad and Bijapur wanted the session to be held in their cities.
Deshpande's foresight was appreciated and Belgaum was finalised for the session. An open space at Tilakwadi was identified. As Belgaum was experiencing water problems, a well was dug for the session.
While doing so, a child named ‘Harapanahalli’, fell into the well and died.
The workers stopped work. They felt the well should be dug elsewhere.
Later, it was Maratha Light Infantry Regiment Centre which objected to the digging of the well as water level in its swimming pool was going down. Deshpande promised that the well would be closed after the session. However the well, which was named ‘Pampa Sarovar,’ remained open after the session and was popular as ‘Congress well’.
Gandhiji was in Belgaum five days before the session.
A skilled artist — Khimajirao Godse — constructed a bamboo hut for him at Vaccine Depot at a cost of `350. Gandhiji said ‘no’ to it, saying it was a palace in the form of a hut. A simple hut was constructed for him.