Source: TH
Context: The 39th Congress Session, chaired by Mahatma Gandhi in Belgaum (now Belagavi) in 1924, marks a century as a landmark in India’s freedom struggle.
About Belagavi Congress Session, 1924:
- Year and Presidentship: Held in December 1924; chaired by Mahatma Gandhi, marking the only Congress session he presided over.
- Blend of Political and Social Reform: Unlike other sessions, it focused equally on social issues like untouchability eradication, khadi promotion, sanitation, and Hindu-Muslim unity, alongside political goals like Swaraj.
- Institutional Transformation: Gandhi restructured the Congress into a mass movement by reducing the membership fee by 90%, making it accessible to all social classes.
- Focus on Grassroots Empowerment: The session mandated contributions to hand-spun khadi, promoting self-reliance and village industries, and marked a shift from urban-centric strategies to rural revitalization.
- Cultural and Ethical Impact:
- Advocated equality, with Brahmin volunteers engaging in sanitation work.
- Iconic cultural performances by Vishnu Digambar Paluskar and Gangubai Hangal.
- Gandhi’s famous declaration, “If I am to be born again, may I be born a Bhangi,” emphasized social justice and upliftment.
- Infrastructure Legacy: The construction of Pampa Sarovara, a well for the session, continues to serve Belagavi, symbolizing sustainable contributions from the event.
- Visionary Resolutions: Unique resolutions on urban planning and cow protection linked economic development with cultural preservation, showcasing Gandhi’s holistic approach.
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