₹100 crore announced for Gandhi Smaraka in Belagavi district
Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Friday announced an allocation of ₹100 crore to build a Gandhi Smaraka (memorial) in Belagavi, the city where Mahatma Gandhi presided over the Indian National Congress’s annual session in 1924 — the only time the Father of the Nation chaired the party’s annual conclave. The Chief Minister said the funds would be set aside in the next State Budget.
Announcement made during Gandhi Jayanti events
Mr. Shivakumar made the announcement after inaugurating the Gandhi Digital Museum at Gandhi Bhavan in Bengaluru on Friday, coinciding with Gandhi Jayanti observances. He also participated in commemorative events held in the city.
Memorial pillars across Karnataka by 2027
In addition to the Belagavi memorial, the Chief Minister said Gandhi Memorial Pillars would be erected at all locations in Karnataka visited by Mahatma Gandhi during the freedom struggle. These pillars, he said, would be in place before Gandhi Jayanti in 2027.
Unveiling the first such pillar at the Government Arts and Science (GAS) College in Bengaluru, Mr. Shivakumar noted that the monument was sculpted by renowned Mysuru artist Arun Yogiraj. The site holds historical importance: on May 8, 1915, Gandhi, accompanied by his wife Kasturba, visited what was then the Government High School (now GAS College) and unveiled a portrait of Gopala Krishna Gokhale.
Budget support for the ‘Gandhi Bharata’ campaign
The State government had earlier allocated ₹5.09 crore in the 2026–27 State Budget to install memorial pillars at 87 locations as part of the “Gandhi Bharata” campaign to commemorate Gandhiji’s 1924 visit. Friday’s announcement of the ₹100-crore Gandhi Smaraka in Belagavi adds a major new component to those commemorative efforts.
Significance of Belagavi’s 1924 Congress session
Belagavi occupies a distinctive place in the history of the freedom movement. The 1924 Congress session held there was the only annual session of the party presided over by Mahatma Gandhi. The proposed Gandhi Smaraka aims to honor that legacy and create a focal point for public engagement with Gandhian history and values.
Statements and appeals
Emphasizing his government’s commitment to preserving Gandhi’s legacy, Mr. Shivakumar said his party “has always worked to preserve the name of Gandhiji.” He cited earlier initiatives, including the naming of the Mahatma Gandhi Rural Development and Panchayat Raj University in Gadag by former Minister H.K. Patil, and the renaming of gram panchayat buildings as Mahatma Gandhi Gram Panchayats.
He also urged people to visit the Sabarmati Ashram’s replica in Gadag, noting that those unable to travel to Ahmedabad could experience the site’s spirit and history there.
Next steps
The ₹100-crore allocation for the Belagavi memorial will be provisioned in the next State Budget, the Chief Minister said. The timeline for the Gandhi Memorial Pillars targets completion ahead of Gandhi Jayanti in 2027, with the first pillar already unveiled in Bengaluru. Further details on the design and location of the Belagavi Gandhi Smaraka are expected to be finalized as budgetary approvals move forward.
Why it matters
The new memorial and statewide pillars expand Karnataka’s ongoing efforts to commemorate Gandhi’s connections to the State and to the national freedom movement. By anchoring these initiatives in historically significant locations — from Belagavi’s 1924 Congress session to Gandhi’s 1915 visit to the Bengaluru campus — the government aims to create enduring public spaces for education, remembrance and civic reflection on Gandhian ideals.
