To mark the Kranti Day (August 9) and the Independence Day (August 15), Mudra Heritage - a city-based NGO on August 12 conducted ‘The Kolhapur Freedom Walk’ revealing the role of Kolhapur district in the Indian Freedom Struggle. The walk started at 9.30 in the morning from Bindu Chawk in old Raviwar Ves (boundry) with the history of the chowk that marks the sacrifice of a student Bindu Kulkarni, who died there in a police lathicharge during the ‘Quit India Movement’. Large number of college students were involved in the acts like boycotting foreign cloths, theft at government treasury, organizing processions and giving slogans, helping underground freedom fighters, writings in newspapers etc. The chowk also has statues of social reformers namely Mahatma Jyotiba Phule and Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar, both having strong connection with the city during freedom struggle. Being a progressive princely state under the leadership of Rajarshee Shahu Maharaja, the Satyashodhk movement was started in Kolhapur in 1911, promoting social reforms like eradication of child marriages and dowry, encouraging primary education and fight against caste-system. The walk covered places like Kolhapur Jail, where thousands of freedom fighters were imprisoned; Shivaji Road and Shivaji Chowk, where freedom fighters vandalized the statue of British Governor and the Karveer Nagar Vachan Mandir, the library associated with number of writers, poets and journalists who wrote inspiring pieces during the freedom struggle, the heritage walk ended at Bhavani Mandap, the part of old palace. The stories of freedom fighters like Chimasaheb Maharaja, Madhavrao Bagal, Ratnappa Kumbhar, Bhagiratheebai Tambat, Jayabai Havire, Karmaveer Bhaurao Patil and others were narrated to the participants to make the history alive. The walk ended by telling the significance of Indian tricolor and the Flag Code to the students. The walk was conducted by heritage researcher Supriya Shelar and managed by Tanaya Siddhanerlikar and Priti Patwa of Mudra Heritage.

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