‘Independent India – 70’, a memorial to commemorate the 70th Independence Day, by Mallasajjana Vyayamashala in front of Gandhi Bhavan here, will be inaugurated on August 9, coinciding with the Quit India Movement.
The memorial, set up at a cost of ₹9 lakh, meant to remind the youth today of the sacrifices made by leaders to attain Independence and help strengthen patriotism. It was meant to reinforce the idea that democratic values were still vibrant in India and needed to be further strengthened, said T.G. Vittal, General Secretary, Gandhi Bhavan and Mallasajjana Vyayamashala.
Tekur Ramanath, president, recalled how the Vyayamashala had contributed during the freedom movement. He spoke of the speech by Bulusu Sambamurthy, a freedom fighter, after he was released from Ballari Central Jail, after which the ground then was named after him.
“All public meetings were being held at the ground then. Now, only a small patch is left where the memorial has been established,” he said and thanked the district administration and the city corporation for allotting the land.
Gangappa M. Malagi, 97, a freedom fighter from Hudli in Belagavi district, will inaugurate the memorial at 11.00 a.m. on Thursday in the presence of Ramprasath Manohar, Deputy Commissioner, among other dignitaries. Earlier, a ‘parbhat pheri’ will be taken out in which students of Bharat Seva Dal, Home Guards and other civilians will take part.