A whiff of Gandhigiri in Bellary

Bellary and Mysore, in the news for the ongoing mining controversy, will see more than the tug of war between the Reddys and Congressmen.

Bellary and Mysore, in the news for the ongoing mining controversy, will see more than the tug of war between the Reddys and Congressmen.

This is because city-based Gandhian, Shambhulinge Gowda who observes Independence month every August, commemorating both Quit India Movement and Independence day.

This time, the Independence month is set aside for the Reddys, and Siddaramaiah and Gowda will carry out a one-man bicycle campaign in Bellary, when the Congressmen reach Bellary and in Mysore, when BJP men, including the Reddys reach Mysore, to propagate Gandhiji's peace message.

Gowda believes that distributing sweets in Bellary and Mysore will replace hatred with peace

"These leaders should not forget our past," said Gowda. "I will be leaving for Bellary tomorrow or day after. The way our so-called representatives are behaving is disappointing," he added.

The Bapu way

Gowda, who taught lessons on simplicity, importance of voting and righteousness of public representatives, through his unique election campaigns that cost less than Rs 10 a day, will do the same in Bellary, but with a different message.

Gowda will be in Bellary when the Congress-led Bangalore-Bellary protest march will reach there on August 9.
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He will play Gandhian peace messages from his bicycle, which is fitted with a speaker and a mic to educate leaders involved in a fight.
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"I will run my campaign in Bellary for two days before the march reaches there," Gowda said. "I will greet Congress leaders in Bellary with peace messages so this padayatra doesn't turn violent."

He will greet the BJP leaders including Reddys in a similar fashion in Mysore on August 12.

Gowda will also distribute sweets in Bellary and Mysore, which he believes will replace hatred by peace.

"He lives by Gandhian principles," said shopkeeper Vijay Kumar. "We have seen him practising it during polls. We hope our leaders learn some lesson from him."