Vol. 10, Issue 6, Part D (2024)

This paper examines the events leading to Vidhurashwatha incident and focuses on the impact of Mahatma Gandhi’s visits to Mysore which boosted the Nationalist freedom aspirations of the people of Karnataka. The Freedom movement in Karnataka cannot be exhaustively reflected as Karnataka state was not a unified political entity as at present. Several parts of present day Karnataka were completely unified in 1956. Earlier several parts of Karnataka were under Mysore government ruled by Maharaja of Mysore. The impact of national freedom struggle was different in different parts of Karnataka. In Mysore, Mysore Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) started to organize several Nationalist led programs which included Khadi propagation, fight against Un touchability, adult education awareness, women involved social awareness programs etc. These programs organized by MPCC attracted lots of people to the gamut of National freedom struggle. But, this brought conflict between MPCC and Mysore Government. The fight between MPCC and the Mysore Government grew bigger as huge crowds started involving in the MPCC led Nationalist programs. The incident in Vidhurashwatha was a continuation of the series of protests against the Mysore Government. The MPCC leaders, who were demanding responsible Government, directed Vidhurashwatha Flag Satyagraha in this direction. The role of Dewan Sir Mirza Ismail and Krishna Raja Wodeyar, the ruler of Mysore was discussed at length. The unending tussle between Mysore Government and MPCC culminated in gaining responsible Government in 1947.