Mysore’s fight to hoist the Tricolour
“Even after August 15, 1947, Bengaluru continued to struggle for independence. While the entire country was jubilant, Bengalureans fumed as they were not allowed to hoist the tricolour atop Attara Kacheri, the present high court building, which housed the government’s offices at the time. There were riots, lathicharge and finally celebrations after the tri-colour was hoisted on the building.
But it was not easy. Even as the country was chanting the mantra of independence we in Bengaluru struggled to do the same. Congressmen wanted to hoist the flag on Attara Kacheri, but were denied permission since the Mysore kings were not part of independent India still. On the night of August 15, 1947, a midnight flag hoisting was organised at Dharmambhudi lake (present Majestic bus
terminus) and the crowd later demanded it be allowed to hoist the tricolour on Attara Kacheri. Some of the freedom fighters and Congressmen held a meeting to discuss how to acheive this. Later, labour leader, Narayan Swamy who actively took part in the Quit India Movement and freedom struggle, went to Attara Kacheri with a fellow Congressman and offered the guards sweets. While the Congressman began to distribute the sweets to the guards, Narayan Swamy scaled the high court building and hoisted the tricolour atop it, removing the Ganda Bherunda flag of the Mysore princely state.
The guards did not notice the change in flag, but passersby were surprised to see the tricolour on Attara Kacheri since the Dewan of Mysore, Arkar Ramaswamy had announced that there would be no government function in Bengaluru or Mysore to mark independence. The guards eventually informed the Dewan’s office and the tricolour was removed. The post-independence struggle continued till the Mysore king signed the merger of the Mysore princely state with the United Republic of India.
—The author is a freedom fighter and a social activist
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