Belgaum Congress session in state’s RD parade tableau

Karnataka has been chosen for the eighth consecutive time by the Centre to display its tableau during the 70th Republic Day parade. This year, coinciding with the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, Karnataka has opted to showcase the historic Belgaum Congress session chaired by Gandhi.

The Centre has planned the theme - ‘Gandhian Connect’ - this year.

Hence all states were directed to come up with tableaux based on Gandhi.

The designs of various states, including Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Kerala failed to make it to the final list, but Karnataka’s design of the historic 1924 Belgaum Congress was picked by the Defence ministry.

Sources in the Department of Information and Public Relations told DH that the work on building the tableau is on in full swing in New Delhi, involving renowned artists.

‘A momentous event’

“The Belgaum (now Belagavi) Congress session was a momentous event as it was the only session chaired by Gandhi. His primary objective was to restore unity between Hindus and Muslims, removal of untouchability, besides underlying the importance of charakha and khadi. As the session was held on these principles, which are so relevant till date, we chose to showcase them in the form of a tableau,” a top official from the state told DH.

Interestingly, the front part of the tableau shows the tower of the famous Virupaksha temple in Hampi, with the title ‘temple of freedom’. A railway line laid specially for the session has been represented by a train.

‘Flag ceremony’

“The premise in the tableaux is named after Vijayanagara. As the flag ceremony was introduced for the first time during the session, the then tricolour — white, green and red with charakha at the centre is shown prominently. The middle and rear part shows Gandhi delivering his presidential address. The tableau will have ‘Udayavagali Namma Chaluva Kannada Nadu,’ penned by Huilgola Narayana Rao, played in the background.”