The memorial day of freedom fighter Subedar Guddemane Appaiah Gowda was observed near his statue in Madikeri. The event was organised under the joint auspices of the District Administration, the Department of Kannada and Culture, and the Karnataka Arebhashe Culture and Literature Academy.
Arebhase Academy President Sadananda Mavaji, retired principal and historian Prof. Nangaru Ningaraju, Dr. Mantar Gowda, MLA of Madikeri, A.S. Ponnanna, MLA of Virajpet and Legal Advisor to the Chief Minister, P. Kalavathi, President of the Madikeri City Municipal Council, Teethira Dharmaja Uttappa, President of the District Guarantee Schemes Implementation Committee, M.G. Mohan Das, President of the Taluk Committee, B.Y. Rajesh, Chairman of the Urban Development Authority, Deputy Commissioner Venkat Raja, Superintendent of Police K. Ramarajan, Additional SP Barike Dinesh Kumar, Anand Karandlaje, President of the Kodagu Gowda Samajas Federation, former Academy President Kolyada Girish, Lakshminarayan Kajegadde, and several dignitaries offered floral tributes at the statue of Subedar Guddemane Appaiah Gowda.
A commemorative procession was taken out from Field Marshal K.M. Cariappa Circle, passing through General Thimayya Circle and Mangerira Muthanna Circle, before culminating at the Fort, where floral tributes were offered at the site where Guddemane Appaiah Gowda was hanged.
Speaking on the occasion, A.S. Ponnanna, MLA and Legal Advisor to the Chief Minister, said that Guddemane Appaiah Gowda made immense sacrifices for India’s freedom and deserves to be remembered forever. He noted that Kodagu, with its hilly terrain, has seen tremendous transformation since pre-Independence days, and Appaiah Gowda’s struggle and sacrifice stand as an everlasting record in history.
Ponnanna lauded the Karnataka Arebhashe Samskruthi mathu Sahitya Academy for continuously observing the martyr’s memorial day for the past fifteen years. Quoting Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, he said, “They cannot make history who forget history.,” stressing the need to preserve historical memory and pass it on to future generations.
He further praised the emotionally rendered folk song (Lavani) dedicated to Appaiah Gowda, describing it as a heartfelt tribute to his legacy.
In his address, Dr. Mantar Gowda, MLA, said that freedom fighters like Appaiah Gowda who sacrificed their lives for India’s independence must be remembered every day. Expressing concern, he remarked, “Many, including Guddemane Appaiah Gowda, gave their lives for freedom, but today we seem to have forgotten the value of that struggle.” He hoped that the park surrounding Appayya Gowda’s statue would soon be developed properly.
Retired principal and historian Prof. Nangaru Ningaraju also spoke on the life and contribution of Appaiah Gowda.
Prizes and certificates were distributed to the winners of an essay competition on Guddemane Appaiah Gowda held for high school students. The winners were:
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Sneha K.F., St. Michael’s School – First Prize
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Lancy Ponnamma T.T., St. Joseph’s School – Second Prize
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Ridhi S. Nayak, St. Joseph’s School – Third Prize
Prominent attendees included Soortale Somanna, Ambekallu Vinod, Academy members P.M. Sandeep, Mohan Ponnachan, Chandrashekar Peralu, Tejakumar Kudekallu, Chandravathi Baddadka, Latha Prasad Kudupaje, P.S. Kariappa, Dr. N.A. Gnanesh, Soodan S. Eerappa, Vinod Moodagadde, Gopalakrishna K.C., Kudupaje K. Prakash, Registrar Chinnaswamy, Kumar, Assistant Director of Kannada and Culture Department, and leaders from various Gowda communities.
Academy President Sadananda Mavaji welcomed the gathering.
