Our Ajjarkadu
The name has its own
music for the students of Dr. G. Shankar Government Women’s College and PG
Study Centre. The college is located in Ajjarkadu…our Ajjarkadu!
Apart from our
college, what fascinated us and drew us into its companionship was the Bhujanga
Park, popularly known as the Ajjarkadu Park. As we walk from the college
towards the Taluk Office to catch our bus, the park beckons us. And, if time
permits, we oblige. Adjacent to the Park is Diana. For the people of Udupi
‘Diana’ means three things - the Diana Circle where express buses stop, the
Diana theatre in Kukkikatte and of course the Diana Restaurant in Ajjarkadu.
Invariably and unwittingly, on Saturdays, our legs make its way to Diana.
Most of our college
memories centers around our college, the Diana Restaurant and of course the
Ajjarkadu Park. But it was only recently that we realized that our academic and
camaraderie hub, Ajjarkadu, has a history of its own. It is indeed our pride to
share this history.
February 25, 1934 –
it was the time of the Freedom Movement. Gandhi made his maiden and in fact
only visit to Udupi on this historic day. Ajjarkadu was the place that Gandhi
addressed the people of the Coastal Region. In mark of that historic event a
bust of Gandhi has been erected in the middle of the park. A radio tower stands
quite close to the bust.
Gandhiji had come to
Udupi as part of his tour for collection of funds for the uplift of the weaker
sections of society and also to promote temple entry for the weaker sections
through a consensus. Yet another objective was to garner funds for relief of
persons affected by the 1933 floods in Bihar.
Gandhiji toured the
Coastal Region in a car. But as there were many rivers and rivulets in the
erstwhile Coastal Belt, Gandhi and his car were ferried in a barge which was
then called jungal and taken from one
bank of the river to another. On this historic day, is has been recorded, that
Gandhiji was welcomed in Udupi at 3.30 pm by philanthropist Haji Abdullah
Saheb. After inaugurating a Khadi Bhavan at Kadabettu, Gandhiji went to
Ajjarkadu to deliver his address to people. The Kannada Weekly Rashtrabandhu reported that nearly 3000
people attended the meeting.
In his address to the
people, which were reported by the Hindu on February 28, 1934, Gandhi urged the
people to create public opinion for opening temples for weaker sections. The
Ajjarkadu Speech has been published in The
Collected Works of Mahatma Gandhi (Volume 57). Gandhi stressed the fact
that opinion in this regard could be formulated only through the gentlest of
means. And of course, Gandhi did not forget to point out that Udupi is the
place where Lord Krishna had turned himself to give darshan to the Saint/Composer Kanakadasa at the Sri Krishna Temple.
And, Gandhi is also said to have harped on his pet theme – the removal of
untouchability. We were also surprised to learn that during his visit to Udupi
Gandhi received a donation of Rupees 1,240/-!!!
Ever since we came to
know the history, ever since we dug into the archives, our fascination for
Ajjarkadu has only increased. But now, along with fascination and nostalgia,
there is a distinct feeling of respect and pride for our Ajjarkadu!
Anusha III BA HEP
Prathibha III BA HEP
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