A Prasanna Kumar was 11-years-old when he with a million others sat glued to the radio as Jawaharlal Nehru’s ‘Tryst-with- Destiny’ - speech was broadcast from Rashtrapati Bhavan. Prasanna Kumar, who is now the director of the Centre for Policy Studies, can recite the speech.
“I have witnessed several historic moments in my life, but nothing matches the feeling of listening to that speech,” says the 82-year-old. “I was at an impressionable age when India attained Independence and the values of freedom are still ingrained in me.”
Describing the days after Independence, he recalls people crowding at the newspaper stands in the city to catch a glimpse of the unfurled Indian flag. “After a few weeks of Independence, theatres in the city screened a video of the Union Jack being lowered and Indian flag being hoisted. It also showed Jawaharlal Nehru delivering the iconic speech.”
Visakhapatnam then was no more than a small fishing village, but it had a role to play in the freedom movement. In response to Mahatma Gandhi’s clarion call, the local leaders organised a Salt Satyagraha and spearheaded the Swadeshi movement. “Several local leaders like Kolluri Surya Gupta, Tenneti Viswanadham and Digumarthi Ramaswamy took part in the Salt Satyagraha. They marched from Vizianagaram to Visakha Beach opposite Town Hall (Where the Visakha Container Terminal Private Limited stands today). They were arrested for making salt and auctioning it,” says city-based historian Edward Paul.
- In the narrow lanes of Old Town Area slumbers a centuries-old European Cemetery. Some of the earliest graves there date back to 1699. Most of these graves belong to British administrators, soldiers and traders. The most intriguing inscription is on the grave of Cadet Kings Ford Venner who died in October 1780, in what could be the earliest mutiny by Indian sepoys against their British administrators. This pre-dates the Indian Rebellion of 1857 by 77 years.
“Several women were a part of this movement too. Janakibai Digumarthi was arrested from the site and sent to Vellore Jail where she delivered a girl child. Another woman Missula Lakshmi Narasamma from the city was arrested in 1932 for participating in Civil Disobedience Movement. Like Janakibai even she was sent to Vellore jail,” adds Edward.
Supporting the Swadeshi movement by boycotting foreign-made goods, most of the people in Visakhapatnam wore khadi . “In 1921, when Gandhiji was travelling with Maulana Mohammad Ali from Vijaywada to Calcutta, Maulana Mohammad Ali was arrested at Waltair Station. Gandhiji addressed a large gathering at the station itself and that began a mass movement in Visakhapatnam. He visited the city five times between 1921 and 1946 ,” adds Edward.
When India gained Independence C S Rao, former Indian Economic Services officer and founder president of Praja Spandana was studying in Andhra University. Rao says that thestudent population of Visakhapatnam were very conscious of the freedom struggle and kept abreast of the events that were happening across the country.“Everyone willingly wore khadi. The conversations were all around the impending Independence.There were arguments and counter arguments supporting different ideologies. However, the general mood was one of celebration , until the realities of Partition started reaching us,” says the 90-year-old Rao.
Prassana is firm in his belief that even today Independence Day is still celebrated with fervour and joy even in the rural hamlets around Visakhapatnam. “Not much has changed over the years as people still wake up early to see the national flag being hoisted at the Red Fort and listen to the Prime Minister’s address that day. However, I believe that the struggles the country had to go through to attain independence should be narrated to the younger generation,” he adds.
Fresh after Independence, freedom fighters like Tenneti Viswanadham spoke extensively about the struggle that got India the freedom. People, especially the students, were urged to value the freedom that they now had. Says Prasanna, “Educational institutes should bring back this tradition of speaking about the freedom struggle.”
A glorious tale of history
Renovation work going on at the 100-year-old Town Hall, one of important heritage structures of Visakhapatnam | Photo Credit: K_R_DEEPAK
The foundation stone of Town Hall in the Old Town was laid on April 3, 1901. The District Collector of Vizagapatam, R.H. Campbell inaugurated it on March 8, 1904. Named the Victoria Diamond Jubilee Town Hall, it is said ₹50,000 was spent by the Rajah of Bobbili Svetachalapathi Ranga Rao, in its construction.
During the freedom struggle, the Town Hall was a major meeting point for freedom fighters and social activists. The local leaders held regular meetings here to disseminate information on the Civil Disobedience and Salt Satyagraha movements. Mahatma Gandhi, addressed a large gathering near Town Hall in 1929. The Salt Satyagraha movement in Visakhapatnam began in 1931. History buff Edward Paul recounts “In later years, MS Subbulakshmi and Dwaram Venkataswamy Naidu performed here when they were still young. C Rajagopalachari, Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, CV Raman and Rabindranath Tagore delivered lectures here.”
Currently, Town Hall is being restored under the Smart City project by the Mumbai-based Savani Heritage Conservation Private Limited at the cost of Rs 3 crore. “We have started work on the first floor of the building. The old Mangalore tiles were removed and replaced with washed old tiles. They are being layered with cement plaster. One more layer will be applied after the rains stop,” says Sravani Naraparaju, project in-charge. Inside, the old layer of lime plaster has been removed and a new one applied. The wooden battens and purlins in the roof have also been sanded.