CHAPTER IX

THE UNIFICATION MOVEMENT.

I. INTRODUCTION:
“Cauveryindama Godhavarivaramirda nadada Kannada” says the Kavirajamarga, a 9th

century Kannada work, describing the extent of Kannada territory. (It was stretching itself from

the rivers Cauvery and the Godavari) Though Kannada language is not spoken on the banks of

the Godavari today, between sixth to 13th centuries C.E. Kannada dominated major parts of

Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Goa. The numerous Kannada inscription found in all these

places testify to the fact that Kannada was the spoken language of the people of those areas.

Kannada poet Pampa was from Vemulavada, a place now in Andhra Pradesh. Famous scholar

and researcher, N. S. Rajapurohit (born 1887) wrote several articles in Kesari (the Marathi paper

of Tilak) about the prevalence of Kannada language in several areas of Maharashtra and also the

influence of Kannada on the literary composition of saints like Jnaneshwar. Even Tilak used to

say that once upon a time the people of Karnataka and Maharashtra used to speak a common

language and that language was Kannada.

This situation changed with the decline of the fortunes of the Kingdom of the Kalyana

Chalukyan dynasty and its feudatories, the Hoysalas, Sevunas and Kakathiyas established their

independent kingdoms in regions now comprising roughly Karnataka, Maharashtra and Andra

Pradesh. This resulted in a setback to Kannada as the latter two dynasties began to patronize

Marathi and Telugu respectively. Kannada regions north of the river Krishna received further

setback when the Bahamani kingdom was established in 1347. After the defeat of Vijayanagara

in the battle Talikota (1565), even the areas to the north of the river Tungabhadra came under the

influence of Adil Shahis of Bijapur. In 1686, the Mughals annexed the Bijapur kingdom and the

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subsequent decline in the former‟s fortunes saw the Marathas supplanting their hold over major

part of North Karnataka. 1

After the fall of Tipu Sultan in 1799 and during the period of British rule, areas that now

comprise Karnataka were under as many as 20 different administrative units with the princely

state of Mysore, Nizam's Hyderabad, the Bombay Presidency, the Madras Presidency and the

territory of Kodagu being the most important ones. In effect, nearly two-thirds of what is now

Karnataka fell outside the rule of the Wodeyar kings of Mysore. This meant that

the Kannadigas in these regions in spite of their large numbers they did not have an

administrative patronage. Kannadigas in the Hubli-Karnataka region for example, came under

the rule of the Bombay Presidency where Marathi was the official language. Those in the

Hyderabad-Karnataka region came under the Nizam's rule where Urdu was the main language.

Kannadigas in South Canara came under the rule from Madras Presidency which used Tamil as

the main language. Under these conditions, a feeling of discontent began among Kannadigas

outside Mysore. Thus, while the Kannadigas under the Nizam felt that Urdu was being forced on

them at the expense of Kannada, those in the Bombay Presidency felt similarly concerning

Marathi. These areas also remained economically undeveloped. It was in these conditions that

the movement that first started as a protest against linguistic oppression, began demanding the

creation of a separate state consolidating all Kannada-speaking regions. This was called

the Ekikarana or 'Unification' movement. 2

The Unification of Karnataka refers to the formation of the Indian state of Karnataka,

then named Mysore State, in 1956 when several Indian states were created by redrawing borders

based on linguistic demographics. Decades earlier, during British rule the first demands for a

state based on Kannada demographics had been made.

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II. THE RISE OF KANNADA CONSCIOUSNESS:
The formation of separate provinces like Assam, Bihar, Orissa on linguistic basis after

the divided Bengal were united into one in 1912, publication of books on Karnataka‟s history,

the freedom movement and the inspiring writings of Alur Venkata Rao, Huilgola Narayana Rao,

Kuvempu, Bendre and others created a thirst for independence and also Unification of the

Kannada-speaking regions. Alur Venkat Rao, who was called “Kannada Kula Purohita”, for

awakening the consciousness of Kannadigas, rendered yeoman service for the cause of

Unification. In 1916 he founded the Ekikarana Sabha at Dharwad, with unification of Karnataka

as its goal. As early as in 1903, Benagal Rama Rao delivered a lecture at Dharwad, stressing the

need for the unification of Kannada speaking regions into a single Presidency. In 1920, a

separate Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee was constituted for the Kannada speaking

regions. In 1924, the all-India Congress session under the Presidentship of Mahatma Gandhi was

held at Belgaum. At the session, the Kannada anthem, “Udayavagali namma cheluva

Kannadanadu”, calling for the creation of beautiful Kannada state, composed by Huilgol

Narayana Rao was sung. The first Karnataka Unification Conference was held at the same venue

and presided over by Sir Siddappa Kambli. The Karnataka Ekikarana Sangha was founded at the

conference and it held its conferences time and again. In 1926, the Hindustani Seva Dal, founded

by Dr. Hardikar conducted a signature campaign in favour of Unification and collected 36,000

signatures. But it was not an easy task to bring people who were under 20 different

administrations in a single province and it was felt that with the country attaining the freedom,

unification could also materialize. The Karnataka Vidyavardhaka Sangha, Dharwad was

established in 1890 by R. H. Deshpande with the objective of working for the resurgence of the

Kannada language which had been marginalised under the rule of the Bombay Presidency where

Marathi was the official language. The Vidyavardhaka Sangha became the aegis under which

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leaders from all over Karnataka gathered to further their agitation. The influence and success of

the Vidyavardhaka Sangha soon lead to more such organisations being set up throughout

Karnataka. The most notable of these were the Kannada Sahitya Parishat (Bangalore) that was

set up in 1915, the Karnataka Sangha (Shivamogga) that began in 1916 and the Karnataka

Samithi in Kasaragod in 1955. 3

III. THE ORIGIN GROWTH OF UNIFICATION MOVEMENT:

Starting with Aluru‟s call for a Kannada linguistic state, the movement had slowly

started gaining momentum and following. It was also around this time that the Indian

independence movement was gathering momentum. Organisations in the movement began

organising rallies and conferences where demands for a separate state for Kannada speaking

people were made. Apart from Aluru, supporters like Gudleppa Hallikeri, Siddappa Kambli,

R. H. Deshpande, Rangarao Diwakar, Koujalgi Srinivasarao, Srinivas Rao Mangalvedhe, Kengal

Hanumanthaiah, Gorur Ramaswamy Iyengar, S. Nijalingappa, T. Mariyappa, Subramanya,

Sowcar Chennaiah, H. K. Veerangowda, H. C. Dasappa, H. Siddaiah, K. R. Karanth, B. S.

Kakkillaya, B. V. Kakkillaya and Anakru were by now prominent in the movement. Anakru in

particular, was influential with his writing and oratory.4

1. The Conferences and Committees in Pre- Independence Period:

Various Conferences were held and committees were constituted for re-organisation of

Indian States on linguistic basis they were;

The Nagpur Conference.

Due to the efforts of these organisations and leaders, the movement not only gained in

momentum but also attained a quasi-political influence. In 1920, Karnataka State Political

Conference was held at Dharwad. At this conference, which was presided over by V P Madhav

Rao, a unanimous resolution was passed demanding the unification of all Kannada speaking

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areas. The conference also advised Kannadigas to attend the Nagpur Congress to be held later

that year in large numbers. Almost 800 delegates attended the Nagpur conference where the

Indian National Congress made the decision to create the Karnataka Pradesh Congress

Committee.This aided the movement and leaders of the Congress like S

Nijalingappa and Kengal Hanumanthaiah (both of whom went on to become Chief Ministers of

Karnataka) and Gudleppa Hallikeri also served as active members of the movement.5

The Belgaum Session of Indian National Congress 1924.

In 1924, the Belgaum congress was held under the aegis of the newly formed Karnataka

Pradesh Congress committee arm of the INC. Mahatma Gandhi presided over this historic

conference. This conference was attended by Kannadigas from all parts in large numbers. The

first Karnataka Unification Conference was also organised at the same venue. This was presided

over by Siddappa Kambli.6

These two conferences were attended by a significant number of leaders, writers, poets

and intellectuals from Karnataka. It was here that Huilgol Narayana Rao first sang his

Udayavagali namma cheluva kannada nadu, which meant Let our charming Kannada land

dawn!. The INC lent formal support to the cause; this was the first time the movement had

explicit political support. As a result of these conferences, the Karnataka Ekikarana Sabha which

was to work in collaboration with the KPCC began with the objective of the unification of

Karnataka. The Karntaka Ekikarana Sabha later came to be known as the Karnataka Ekikarana

Sangha.7

The Nehru Committee Report.

In 1928, due to the efforts of Gudleppa Hallikeri, the formation of a single province by

uniting all Kannada speaking areas was recommended by the Nehru Committee. It was stated by

the committee that there was a “strong prima facie case for unification”. It also went on to state

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that it believed Karnataka could also be a financially strong province. This recommendation

aided the movement. There was later support from literary figures like Kuvempu,

Bendre, Gokak, S B Joshi, Betgeri Krishna Sharma, M Govinda Pai, Shivarama Karanth and

Kayyara Kiyyanna Rai. There was also widespread support growing from the newspapers and

media. Several smaller public and college organisations also began, notably in Bengalur,

Shivamogga and Raichur.8

The 1937 Elections.

Following the Simon Commission, elections were held in 1937. The Congress said it

would favour the formation of the separate Karnataka and Andhra states. This was met with

some resistance from the British and also some of the princely states. While the princely states

feared that they might stand to lose some territory, the British themselves were unsure of how

they would handle the reorganisation. Siddappa Kambli sensing the reluctance, decided that the

movement had to approach the Simon Commission with their case. But the other leaders of the

movement like Gangadhar Deshpande, Rangarao Diwakar, Koujalgi Srinivasarao and Aluru

advised him not to do so as they had boycotted the commission. Gudleppa Hallikeri invited the

Maharaja of Mysore to tour the Kannada speaking provinces of Bombay and Hyderabad. After

the tour and several discussions the movement gained his active support.9

The 1946 Unification Conference.

The tenth conference of the Ekikarana movement was held on 10 January 1946

in Bombay. This conference was inaugurated by Sardar Patel and attended by the likes of B. G.

Kher, the then Chief Minister of Bombay presidency. In his speech at the conference, Sardar

Patel stated that the interests of all linguistic groups would be high on the list of priorities for the

new government of independent India. This served to reduce the apprehensions of the movement

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leaders and the common people. This was also to have a bearing on the constituent assembly that

met in the same year.10

In the same year, the All-Karnataka convention, a gathering of Kannadigas was held

in Davanagere, in central Karnataka. This was presided over by Mr. M P Patil, the revenue

minister of Bombay. This convention attracted tens of thousands of Kannadigas from Karnataka.

Leaders like Gudlappa Hallikeri, Kengal Hanumanthaiah, T Mariyappa, Subramanya, Sowcar

Chennaiah, H K Veerangowda, H C Dasappa and H Siddaiah attended this convention and urged

the constituent assembly to create the linguistic states.11

The movement for Unification of Karnataka had originated in Dharwad. Alur Venkata

Rao was the man who floated the idea and nurtured it. In 1928, a Committee headed by Motilal

Nehru was appointed by the Congress to draft a constitution for India. Dr. Hardikar with the help

of Sevadal collected 30,000 signatures supporting unification and submitted a memorandum in

support of Unification. Diwakar wrote a book entitled “A Case for United Karnataka” for

submission to the Committee. The Nehru Committee opined that Karnataka can be a viable

province. Even the Simon Commission too had accepted the idea of Linguistic States. But the

Karnataka Congress did not submit any memorandum to the Commission, as the Congress had

announced the boycott against Commission, it pressurized non-congress groups too, not to

submit any memorandum. This resulted in the delay of Unification, which could have been

approved by the commission itself. The Sixth Karnataka Unification Conference was held at

Dharwad in 1936, and Dattopant Belvi of Belgaum presided over it.12

When the Federal Act of 1935 was passed, and implemented in 1937, scope for

provincial autonomy provided by it helped the Unification Movement to receive further

fillip. In 1938, Vishwanathrao Jog moved a resolution for Unification of Karnataka and got it

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passed in the Bombay Legislative Assembly. But as the Quit India Movement saw all Congress

leaders either underground or behind the bars, in 1944 the 9th Karnataka Unification Conference

could take place only in 1944, at Dharwad. Advocate S.S. Malimath was the Chairman of the

reception Committee and K.B. Jinaraja Hegde presided over the conference. All-Karnatak

Unification Association (Sangha) was reorganized with Jinaraj Hegde as the President and writer

Sriranga as one of the Vice-Presidents. Sriranga in turn toured all over Karnataka, delivered

speeches and organised local committees.13

In 1946, Unification Conference was held at Bombay, with B.G. Kher presiding over it.

But when the new Constitution for India was framed, the issue of forming a new Kannada State

did not find a place in it. Karnataka Ekikarana Mahasabha was organised at Davangere in 1953

M. P. Patil presided over it, and it resolved that the concepts of Unification and Linguistic States

must be incorporated in the new Constitution. Later, Karnataka Ekikarana Mahasamiti with S.

Nijalingappa as the President was founded with A. J. Dodmeti and Mangalvedhe Srinivasrao as

its Secretaries. It was a unit of the Congress party. By then the Karnataka Pradesh Congress

Committee Office had been brought to Hubli from Dharwad. G.V. Hallikeri was the Secretary of

the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee from 1938 to 1960. Mangalvedhe Srinivasarao

came to stay at Hubli from Bagalkot and looked after the Movement for Unification.

Basarigidada Veerappa and Shantappa Yalamali of Gadag generously helped the Unification

movement, with generous pecuniary contributions.14

To convince the Constituent Assembly, of the need for Unification, a delegation with

Sriranga as the leader visited Delhi. A Search Committee to report on the feasibility of creating

the linguistic states was formed with eight members in it. But over the issue of Bombay, whether

the city should be a part of Maharashtra or Gujarath being a bone of contention between Shankar

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Rao Dev, the Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee President and Central Home Minister

Sardar Patel, the proposal of creation of linguistic states was dropped for the time being says

Diwakar Jawaharlal Nehru was also opposed to the division of Hyderabad State on linguistic

basis. Karnataka Unification Conference was held at Kasargod in 1947 with Diwakar presiding

over it.15

2. THE POST INDEPENDENCE EVENTS OF UNIFICATION MOVEMENT:

India soon gained independence in 1947. The new government soon began delaying

concerning the Karnataka Ekikarana movement. Kannada speaking areas were now grouped

under five administrative units of the Bombay and Madras provinces, Kodagu, and the princely

states of Mysore and Hyderabad. The Akhila Karnataka Ekikarana Parishat met

in Kasargod and reiterated the demand for a separate state for Kannadigas.

Liberation of Hyderabad-Karnataka.
While Karnataka became independent with the rest of the country on 15 August 1947,

this did not occur in some parts of the state that were under the rule of the Nizam of Hyderabad.

Hyderabad consisted of large portions of what were later to be the north eastern districts

of Bidar, Gulbarga and Raichur of Karnataka state. The Lingayat minority in these regions also

largely believed that they had been neglected and resented the oppression of the Nizam and

the Razakars. The Nizam refused to accede to India until his rule was overthrown by force.

Following the 'police action' against the Nizam, Hyderabad province and its citizens became

independent on 17 September 1948. This day is celebrated by the Karnataka government as

the Hyderabad-Karnataka liberation day.16

The Dhar and JVP committee.

In the same year (1948), the government appointed the Dhar commission to look into the

demands of the Ekikarana movement as well as those of the other parallel movements in the

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other states. The Dhar commission in its report, opposed any reorganisation of the states. This

was criticised by all quarters including the Jaipur Congress. The government now formed the

„JVP‟ committee. This committee had Jawaharlal Nehru, Vallabhai Patel and Dr. Pattabhi

Sitaramayya on the board. This committee examined the demands again and created a report.

The JVP report, however, favoured only the creation of the Andhra state while the Karnataka

Ekikarana movement was deliberately ignored. The Ekikarana movement saw this as a betrayal

of the Congress which had declared the creation of linguistic provinces as one of its goals in its

1951 manifesto. The movement now formed the Karnataka Ekikarana Paksha to contest the

1951 polls. This was supported by literary figures as well as politicians like Gudlappa Hallikeri,

Kengal Hanumantayya, S Nijalingappa and C M Poonacha, the Chief Minister of Kodagu

The Fazal Ali Committee.

In January 1953, at the Congress session in Hyderabad, a resolution was also passed

favouring the creation of Andhra Pradesh but not Karnataka. A. J. Dodmeti, a senior Congress

leader and the member of the Bombay assembly, immediately resigned from his seat and

launched a hunger strike at Jakkali in Dharwad. This was widely supported. In the riots at Hubli

that followed, many people were injured and several courted arrest.

In the Hubli-Dharwad by-elections that followed, the Congress were defeated while the

Karnataka Ekikarana Paksha's candidate won by a landslide. Under pressure, Prime Minister

Nehru constituted the States Reorganisation Commission (SRC), also known as the Fazal Ali

commission due to being headed by Justice Fazal Ali. At the same time, the Mysore government

appointed a fact-finding committee, headed by M. Sheshadri. The SRC opposed the unification

but its findings were ignored due to overwhelming support in favour from Mysoreans such

as Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya. Congress leader Gudlappa Hallikeri furthered the cause of

unification within his party by advocating for states based on linguistic demographics. He also

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represented and urged unification in front of the SRC. The SRC eventually recommended the

reorganisation of the states based on linguistic demographics and this was soon ratified in

parliament.

The ratification in parliament of the recommendations of the SRC was reacted to

positively by Kannadiga people, although there was also disappointment at the non-inclusion of

certain parts of Mysore state. Most notable among the excluded areas was Kasargod, which had

been one of the centres from which the Ekikarana movement had launched its agitation. This is

an issue that continues to affect those who fought for the unification of Karnataka. On 1

November 1973, under Devaraj Urs as Chief Minister, Mysore state was renamed as Karnataka.

3. ROLE OF BOMBAY KARNATAKA:

Above were thre events at macro level or national level. It were the leaders and people of

the Kannada Districts of the then Bombay presidency called as Southern Maratha Country who

played important role in Unification of Karnataka

Role of Dharwad District.

The Constitution did not create linguistic states. A non-party Unification Conference was

organized at Haveri by Hosmani Siddappa in May 1951. The newly founded Ekikarana Parishat

demanded the resignation of all people.s representatives (MLAs, MLCs and MPs), and to

implement its resolution, a committee of three headed by Hosmani was set up. The Parishat put

up candidates in the 1951-52, general elections on behalf of the Karnataka Ekikarana Sabha

against the Congress. The Congress mentioned in its manifesto that Unification of Karnataka

was its goal. Therefore, no candidate of the Ekikarana Paksha won the election.17

But Potti Sriramulu, a leader from Andhra went on fast, pressing for the demand of the

formation of Andhra soon after the 1952 elections, and on the 64th day of his fast, he died.

There were unprecedented violent agitations in Andhra after his death, and Prime Minister

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Nehru agreed for the formation of Andhra in 1952. But this Andhra Pradesh included Telugu

areas in Madras Presidency only. The issue of division of Hyderabad State or formation of

Karnataka was never raised on the occasion. In January 1953, the Indian National Congress

annual session was held at Hyderabad. Prior to this, Andanappa Dodmeti of Jakkali started a

self-purificatory fast in favour of Unification from Jakkali. At the Hyderabad Congress session,

reacting to this fast, Kengal Hanumanthiah, Mysore Leader, spoke in support of Unification. The

Karnataka Unification camp started at Jakkali continued. On August 4(1954) Dodmeti resigned

his membership of the Bombay State Legislature. In between, the Akhanda Karnataka Rajya

Nirmana Parishath came into existence with the objective of carrying on the Unification

Movement (May 1953) Ramakrishna Karanth was its President. This Parishath launched a

satyagraha for retaining Bellary within Karnataka. Nearly 5000 people were arrested during this

agitation. At the sametime in the Bye elections which were held for Dharwad and Hubli

Legislative Assemblies, the Congress candidates were defeated and those candidates who were

advocating unification causes, won the elections.18

Soon after this, Shankargauda Patil of Adargunchi undertook .fast unto death., at Hampi,

pressing for the Unification of Kannada speaking areas. A meeting of Karnataka Pradesh

Congress Committee was held at Hubli on April 13-14 (1953). On that occasion there was an

unprecedented gathering of people, and demonstration in favour of unification which turned

violent causing lot of damage. Under these circumstances, the Central Government appointed a

three-member Fazl Ali Commission to look into the issue of Linguistic States. The Commission

recommended for the formation of Linguistic States including Karnataka.19

The final events of the movement for unification including extreme action, was to be

evidenced in Dharwad district itself, where the Unification Movement had germinated. Though

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the new state was founded on November 1 (1956), even for the naming of the State as

“Karnataka”, on November 1 (1973), a strong movement had to be initiated as evidenced in

Dharwad district.20

Role of Bijapur District.

In Karnataka Ekikarana Mahasabha organised at Davangere in 1953 representatives from

the district like Murugaiah Jangin, Upadhyaya etc, attended. Hampi Satyagraha decided that,

Bellary should become a part of Karnataka. Veerabhadrappa Shirur was its Secretary.

Andanappa Dodda Meti compelled for unification and towards the end undertook fast.21

In the Unification Movement the role of B D Jatri, S R Kanti, Channabasappa Ambali

etc, was great. S R Kanti, the Secretary of the Karnataka State Memorandum Committee was

assisted by S B. Bandaragallu, S.S. Kavisetry and Channabasappa of Muddebihal.

Madhavananda Prabhu (Mahadeva) of Inchageri Mutt, from the beginning, participated in the

freedom struggle, and worked for the Unification of Karnataka, by taking part in the conferences

held at Hampi, Gadag, Davanagere etc, and towards the end, he undertook fasting for 21 days.

Murugaiah Jangin and Mangalavede were the Secretaries to the Karnataka Unification Sangha.

Literary lumaries like Madhura Channa, Revanna Kapase, Simpi Linganna, etc. from the district

worked fdr the unification. Later on under the presidentshp of S. Nijalingappa, a branch of the

Karnataka Unification Mahasabha was established at Bagalkot.22

Due to the struggle of the Kannadigas, Fazal Ali Committee agreed to reorganize the

Karnataka State. The Old Mysore leaders were not satisfied with the Unification and some of

them had openly opposed Unification. But, S R Kanti, Andanappa Dodda Meti, the Bombay-

Karnatak leaders stuck to the stand they had taken and succeeded in persuading and convincing

the leaders of the Old Mysoro area. As a consequence, on November 1, 1956, the United

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Karnataka came into existence as Mysore State. On that day the people of Bagalkot carried, aged

Murugaiah Jangin, on their shoulders, in the procession.23

Role of Belgaum District.

As discussed in earlier chapters Belgaum district had been in the forefront of the

Freedom and Unification movements.

When Tilak launched the Home Rule League, Belgaum was made the headquarters of the

Karnataka unit of the League. When K P C C was formed in 1920, Belgaum district was

included in the new province, and Gangadhar Rao Deshpande, popularly known as “Lion of

Karnataka” was its first President. Belgaum Congress of 1924 was hosted by the K P C C and

members of the Reception Committee were drawn from all Kannada-speaking areas. First

Karnataka Unification Conference with Sir Siddappa Kambli as President was held in Belgaum

in 1924. Congressmen of Belgaum launched Samyukta Karnataka weekly in 1929 to work as the

mouth organ of both freedom movement and Unification movement. The district also hosted the

fourth Unification Conference at Belgaum in 1929, Ranganatha Mudaliar presiding. The fifth

Conference was held at Hukeri, Dr Pattabhi Sitaramaiah being the President. The seventh

Conference too was held at Belgaum, Dr U Ramarao of Madras presiding. 24

Even after Independence, Belgaum district had been in the forefront of the Unification

movement. Some of the prominent leaders of the Akhanda Karnataka Rajya Nirmana Parishat

like Channappa Wali, Tallur Rayana Gauda and Chinmayaswamy Onkarnath were from the

district. For the plan of the Satyagraha these leaders wanted to launch from August (1953)

demanding Unification, these leaders had been detained under Act IV of 1950, and they even

filed a Writ in the Supreme Court and the court ordered their release. The Fazl Ali Commission

which was appointed to look into the demand, recommended the formation of linguistic states

and Unification of Karnataka. Leaders like Gangadhar Rao Deshpande had supported the idea of

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Unification and inclusion of Belgaum district in Karnataka when the Fazl Ali Commission

recorded their evidence. Except the taluk of Chandgad, the whole of Belgaum district was

transferred to Karnataka when the new State was formed on 1-11-1956.25

Role of Uttara Kannada District.

When India became free on 15th of August, 1947, Uttara Kannada continued in the

Bombay State. But the people of Uttara Kannada had always felt that the district must be

included in a proposed new State of Kannada speaking people. They had always an impression

that continuing in a composite state like Bombay where the Marathi and Gujarati speaking

people dominated, the Kannada speaking areas were not receiving their due share in the

developmental activities. The neglect of the proposal to develop Karwar as an allweather port,

lack of rail and even normal communication facilities in the district, etc., made them feel that

only in a united Kannada speaking state, justice can be meted out to them. The district was

backward agriculturally as most of the land was hilly or was under forest. Most of the people did

not have enough land to cultivate nor any other alternative means of livelihood as the district had

no industries worth the name to provide jobs.26

The elite in the district always felt that their solace lay in the formation of the united state

of Karnataka, and district's merger in it. The district had been included by the Indian National

Congress in the Karnataka province when K.P.C.C. came to be formed in December 1920. The

State hosted the third Karnataka Provincial Political Conference at Gokarn in 1924. Leaders

from the district like Shamrao Haldipurkar had held the post of office bearer of the K.P.C.C.

more than once. The district hosted the 17th annual Kannada Sahitya Sammelana in 1931,

organised at Karwar under the Presidentship of Muliya Timmappayya. The district also hosted

the 36th annual Kannada Sahitya Sammelana organised at Kumta in 1954 presided over by V.

Seetharamaiah. Resolutions in support of Unification were passed during these conference. A

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Special Karnataka Unification Conference was organised at Karwar in December 1931, with J.

A. Saldanha, M.L.C. as the President.27

Local newspapers in the district like Kaanada Vritta had always supported the idea of

Unification. Representations of the Karwar Chamber of Commerce, Bar Association and other

such bodies had been sent to the States‟ Reorganisation Commission (1953) in support of the

formation of United Karnataka and the district's inclusion in the proposed State. Dinkar Desai

and P. S. Kamath played prominent part in drafting the Memorandum for United Karnataka

State submitted by the K.P.C.C. to the States' Reorganisation Commission in 1954. When the

new State of Mysore came into existence on 1st November, 1956, Uttara Kannada came to be

transferred to it together with the other three districts from Bombay Province, viz., Dharwad,

Bijapur and Belgaum.28

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REFERENCES
1. Gurulingan Kapse and others Hacchevu Kannadada Deepa, A Sauvenir of All India 59th
Sahitya Sammelana Hubli, p. 90.
2. Ibid. Also Iteshamul Huq, A Hand Book Of Karnataka 2015, pp.103, 108
3. Gurulingan Kapse, Op.Cit., p.91, Iteshamul Huq, Ibid., p.103
4. T. A. Parthasarathy, Karnataka state Gazetteer, Dharwad District, 2002. p. 132
5. Iteshamul Huq, A Hand Book Of Karnataka, p.109.
6. Suryanath U. Kamath, Swatantrya Sangramada Smritigalu, Vol. III, p.308
7. Swadeshabhimani, Kannada Weekly, Bangalore, 26th December, 1924,p.2
8. Iteshamul Huq, Op.Cit.
9. T. A. Parthasarathy, p.133.
10. Ibid.
11. Ibid
12. Ibid., pp132-33
13. Ibid., p.133
14. Suryanath U. Kamath, Swatantrya Sangramada Smritigalu, Vol. III, p.292.
15. T. A. Parthasarathy, Op.Cit., p.133.
16. “Hyderabad Karnataka Liberation Day to be celebrated in Bidar on September 17”. The
Hindu. 13 September 2006. Retrieved 28 November 2012.
17. T. A. Parthasarathy, Op.Cit., pp.133-34.
18. Ibid., p.134.
19. Ibid.,
20. Ibid.
21. S.A. Jeelani, Karnataka State Gazetteer, Bijapur District, pp.171-72
22. Ibid., p.172
23. Ibid.
24. Suryanath U Kamath, Karnataka State Gazeteer, Belagum District, p.158.
25. Ibid.,pp.158-59
26. Suryanath U Kamath, Karnataka State Gazeteer, Uttara kannada District, pp.186-87
27. Ibid,p.187
28. Ibid.

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