Mangaluru: The 77th Independence Day celebrations are taking place in Dakshina Kannada district. The flag hoisting ceremony was held at Nehru Maidan in Mangaluru by the district administration and the City Corporation.
District in-charge Minister Dinesh Gundurao raised the flag. Later, conveying the message of Independence Day, he mentioned how Dakshina Kannada district had actively participated in India’s freedom struggle and made significant contributions. Notably, even before the establishment of British colonial rule, the foundation of the freedom movement had been laid in Dakshina Kannada district.
In the 16th century, when the Portuguese arrived in Tulunadu for trade and sought to establish their dominance, the valiant woman of Tulunadu, Abbakka Rani of Ullal, stood up against the colonial power, becoming an emblem of Tulu people’s self-respect. By opposing foreign rule and setting the stage for subsequent battles, she symbolized Tulunadu’s spirit and inspiration.
The Amarasullia rebellion of 1837 is globally renowned. Leaders like Kalyana Swamy, Aparampara, and Budibasappa led the movement. The rebellion extended to Dakshina Kannada and Kodagu regions, strongly opposing the British.
Moving forward, in Mangalore during 1934-35, under the leadership of Congress Socialist Party and with the presence of Amaladevi Chattopadhyay, workers’ organizations like Ammambala Balappa, Kushalnath Rai, Devappa Alva, and Appavare Yellappa actively participated in various movements.
During Gandhi’s Salt Satyagraha in 1930, figures like Karnad Sadashiva Rao, Gangadhar Deshpande, and Kaujalgi participated in Forest Satyagraha, Non-Cooperation Movement, Boycott, Non-Taxation, and Civil Disobedience Movements in Dakshina Kannada, giving rise to the historic ‘Ankola model’ movement.
Just as Nehru Maidan had been the site of the freedom struggle’s commencement, it also witnessed the first Independence Day celebrations on August 15, 1947. Minister Dinesh Gundurao stressed that it is our responsibility today to uphold the values of our struggle as we move forward.
Dinesh Gundu Rao, emphasized the need for a drug-free Mangalore, prompting strict measures by the police against drug-related activities. Several drug peddlers have been apprehended in recent months, efforts to control drug supply and demand are underway.
The police are engaging students in anti-drug awareness programs. They are also actively enforcing law and order, targeting moral policing and rowdyism. District-level programs must follow set guidelines. Transparency and collaboration are key, he said.
The event saw the presence of Deputy Commissioner Mullai Mugilan, Western Range IGP Chandragupta, Mangaluru City Police Commissioner Kuldeep Kumar Jain, SP Rishyanth, CEO Anand, and MCC Commissioner Anand. MLA Vedavyas Kamath and MLC Harish Kumar were also present on the occasion.
