Gandhi Bharata will be a year-long event, says Minister

Gandhi Bharata: Year-long centenary celebrations of 1924 Belgaum Congress Session chaired by Mahatma Gandhi with various events planned.

Gandhi Bharata, the centenary celebrations of the 1924 Belgaum Congress Session, is going to be a year-long event, Minister H.K. Patil said in Belagavi on Wednesday.

It is a national event as it was the only session chaired by Mahatma Gandhi. The session was not just a political event. It was a movement for social and economic change. The session strengthened the freedom by aiming to eliminate untouchability and instilling a sense of brotherhood, the Minister said.

“We are trying to celebrate it in a meaningful manner. Several programmes, including release of books, seminars, workshops, film and theatre shows, competitions, marathons and Charkha workshops, will be organised till December 2025,” he said.

He was reviewing preparations for the unveiling of the Mahatma Gandhi statue in front of the Suvarna Soudha.

“With the aim of introducing Gandhi’s philosophies to all, the State government has announced 41 welfare, development and awareness creation programmes,” he said.

He said that a huge statue of Mahatma Gandhi will be unveiled in front of the Suvarna Soudha at 10 a.m. on Friday. Leaders of all parties and freedom fighters have been invited. He recalled that he had personally invited veteran freedom fighter Vithal Rao Yalagi and descendants of Gangadhar Rao Deshpande to the centenary celebrations.