Reportedly karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah will be writing to former united states President barack obama to invite him to the centenary celebrations of the belgaum congress session to be held in december this year in the state. obama is being invited to address the joint session of the karnataka assembly’s winter session held annually in Belagavi (formerly Belgaum). Perhaps the two term former US president who has visited india twice before, had also mentioned how mahatma gandhi has inspired him and that his fascination with india has also largely been around the Independence icon, his writings, and how his thoughts resonated Obama’s deepest instincts as well.
Meanwhile karnataka minister of law HK Patil said that this special invitation is expected to be sent soon and the state government is hopeful that obama, who called mahatma gandhi the leader of the world, will accept it. This special celebration was announced by Siddaramaiah in the Budget 2024-25 and an allocation of Rs 2 crore has been set aside for it. The centenary event in Belagavi commemorates mahatma Gandhi’s leadership at the 39th session of the indian national congress in 1924, the only time he presided over a congress session. It was during this session that gandhi laid out the strategy for India’s independence from british rule.
Moreover the session, held from december 26-28, 1924, was organised under the leadership of Gangadhar Rao Deshpande, known as the lion of Karnataka. gandhi emphasized non-violence, non-cooperation, satyagraha, and civil disobedience as the key strategies for achieving independence. As part of the centenary celebrations, minister Patil outlined plans for a series of events, including a photo exhibition, a year-long display of historical artefacts, the installation of a memorial pillar, and several other commemorative programs.
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