Tulunadu martyrs to be feted in Mangaluru today

Tulunadu martyrs to be feted in Mangaluru today

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Apr 05, 2016: Addressing media,  Tulunada Rakshana Vedike founder president Yogish Shetty Jeppu said the struggle for freedom against the British is believed to have started in 1857. 

Vedike will take out a rally and hoist the Tulunadu flag on Bavuta Gudda (Light House Hill) on April 5 to commemorate the sacrifice of the first freedom fighters from the land, such as Kedambadi Ramegowda, Kalyanappa and others.

As per legend farmers from Sullia, Bellare and neighbouring villages, under the leadership of Kedambadi Ramegowda, came to Mangaluru and unmounted the British flag on Light House Hill and hoisted a flag designed with the motifs of sun and moon, on April 5, 1837 in Tulunadu, he added. No time was given.

He said several years ago, Sullia town panchayat had resolved to erect the statue of Kedambadi Ramegowda in Sullia, but it has not been realised so far.

He said a procession will be taken out under the leadership of Kannada Sahitya Parishat former president Harikrishna Punaroor from Jyothi Circle to Bavuta Gudda. Tulu writers, artistes and others will take part in the programme, he said.

The Tulunadu flag will be hoisted on the Light House Hill. Actor Arjun Kapikad, theatre person Devdas Kapikad, writer Deviprasad Sampaje, Dr Niranjan Rai and others will take part in the programme.  A good number of participants are expected, he added.

Shetty said Kedambadi Ramegowda and others were hanged by British at Bikarnakatte and it is believed their corpses were left in the trees for a long time. Hawks and eagle ate them, he added.

Their names were mentioned in the gazette of the then Madras government. The works ’Amarakranthi’ by N S Deviprasad Sampaje and ’Kedambadi Ramegowda’ by Palthadi Ramakrishna Achar speak about the freedom struggle in Tulunadu, involving the Bavuta Gudde incident, Shetty said.

Mahendranath Salettoor, K A Munir Bava, Prashant Rao Kadaba, Siraj Adkare, Adbul Rashid, Anand Adyar and others were present at the press meet.