Wheels of revolution

Hudali, a remote village located in Belagavi district, is known for its association with Mahatma Gandhi and efforts to realise his dream of self-reliance.

In 1927, freedom fighter and Gandhian Gangadhar Rao Deshpande began a khadi unit at the Kumari ashram near Hudali. It is considered to be one of the earliest khadi unit set up in the State. The khadi unit in Hudali was established to further the cause of the Satyagraha Ashram that Mahatma Gandhi had set up at Sabarmati, Gujarat in 1915. By then, khadi had become an integral part of the freedom movement.

Gangadhar Rao was instrumental in popularising the khadi movement in the State. He is said to have travelled extensively from village to village to create awareness about the significance of khadi and encourage people to be self-reliant.

Impressed by the efforts of the people of Hudali, Mahatma Gandhi visited the place in April 1937. He was invited by Gangadhar Rao as part of the Gandhi Seva Sammelana. He stayed in the village for seven days. Other leaders like Vallabhbhai Patel, Sarojini Naidu also participated in the event.

Over 10,000 people are said to have congregated at Hudali to meet Gandhi, making it one of the largest events in the khadi movement’s history. Since his visit to Hudali, the khadi movement gained momentum and spread to the neighbouring districts as well.

Later the khadi unit gave way to the Khadi and Gramodyog Sahakari Sangh Ltd which was set up in 1954. The Society has been manufacturing khadi and other products and has given employment to hundreds of people in the village and the surrounding villages. One can find rare photos of Mahatma Gandhi’s visit and important events of the freedom movement displayed at the Smaraka Bhavan of the Society. Today, Hudali continues to be a Gandhian village following the ideals of the Mahatma in all possible ways.