Petitions
Karnatak Chamber of Commerce, Branch Office, Bagalkot
6 January 1948.
The Karnatak Chamber of Commerce, Bagalkot branch, wrote to the President of the Constituent Assembly demanding the unification of Kannada-speaking districts into a single Karnataka province. The letter was sent by the Honorary Secretary, on behalf of the Chamber, which was a member of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry.
The Chamber demanded that scattered Kannada-speaking regions across Bombay, Madras, and other administrative units be brought together. It named specific districts and talukas it considered rightfully Kannada territory: Belgaum, Bijapur, Dharwar, North Kanara, Bellary, South Kanara, Coorg, and others. It called on the government to appoint a Boundary Commission to settle disputes with neighbouring linguistic groups, and declared readiness to accept its decision as final.
The tone is rather emotional and accusatory. The Chamber accused the national leadership of indifference and partiality, pointing to the government’s willingness to consider the formation of Andhra Province while ignoring Karnataka’s case. It cited a recent Central Educational Department proposal to publish pamphlets in all languages except Kannada as evidence of official neglect. The Kannada people are described as scattered, tortured, and treated with a “step-mother’s attitude.” The letter closes with a warning that they will “cry, roar and struggle hard to escape from the iron grip” if their demand is not met.
Indian Industries.
Karnatak Chamber of Commerce, Branch Office:. Bagalkot,
President,
Rao-Bahaddur,
Y. MAHABALESHWARAPPA
Hon. Secretaries,
M. S. JENGIN, Bagalkot.
K. P. GADAG, Gadag,
R. V. SIRUR. Hubli,
Ref. No. _____________
Karnatak Province.
(INDIA.)
Member,
Federation of Indian Chambers,
of Commerce & Industry
.
Provincial Road Board, Bombay.
M. & S. M. Rly. Local advisory
Board, Madras.
2nd Jan. 1948.
To
The President
Constituent Assembly,
New Delhi
Sir,
We wish to place before your honour the case for the UNIFICATION of KARNATAK, attached herewith. We request your honour to go through the case and do the needful. We earnestly hope that it will receive your kind and immediate attention.
I beg to remain,
Sir,
Your most obedient servant,
<Signature>
Hon. Secretary.
WE WILL NOT TOLERATE ANY DELAY IN THE UNIFICATION OF
KARNATAK.
Our earnest and long cherished hope of being united with our scattered KANNADA BROTHERS, at least after the advent of our hard-earned FREEDOM, is giving way to disappointment and despair on hearing the indifferent remarks about the UNIFICATION of KARNATAK PROVINCE by our esteemed leaders… Probably, it may be due to the wrong interpretation of our cause and misunderstanding our object which affect our very existence and which are problems of our life and death… If not so, then it is our misfortune that comes in our way.
They are afraid of facing more dangers, as they say, in case they take to solve the problem of Karnataka. But, at the same time they do not hesitate to rouse our feelings by consenting to the formation of the neighbouring Andhra Province. To give preference to our avaricious neighbours who are always on the look-out of swallowing as much portion of our land as they can, is to issue a license to do so. To put off the cause of Karnataka is to give a death-blow to it. It is just like branding the already wounded heart. Then, Karnataka will remain only in name …………
Or, do our leaders think of merging its identity by keeping it as it is – an object of pity and discard, its whistle and murmuring unheard or unheeded, no strength left even to cry out its grievances in one voice on account of its tortured condition and on account of the aggressive policy of its neighbours?
This we will not allow ourselves to go on any longer…… It is painful to see the People’s Government’s partial attitude towards two crores of Kannada speaking Souls, who are strewn asunder higher and thither and who also have also contributed their share of squirrel’s services towards the freedom of our Mother India, without any selfish motive before them… Cry for help in that big Central Assembly Hall through our representatives goes in the air without producing any effect…. Recent proposal of the Central Educational Department to publish pamphlets in all the languages except Kannada throws much light on the attitude of the Government… It clearly shows that the Government is ignoring the cause of Karnataka in every respect… Why this step-mother’s attitude towards Kannadigas! … All this leads us even to think that, besides Government, some selfish hands must be playing a mischievous game behind the curtain.
We have opened our eyes. We have determined to unite with our Kannada brothers with a brotherly affection once again. Sham excuses for putting off the Unification are simply meaning-less… If there are difficulties in the way, earliest attention is necessary.. So, we are demanding the attention of the ___ The Government in this respect. When once the Government has decided to make divisions in the country on linguistic basis, it must be done completely. So, we request the Government to appoint a Boundry Commission to settle the disputes likely to arise between ourselves and our neighbours. We are ready to accept the impartial decision of the Boundry Commission as final. As for the States’ portions in our midst, we wish to say that we are too glad to take them in our arms if they are willing. We are truly glad to see that many of the States have shown their willingness to merge in the bulk… For the present, there is no difficulty in uniting those pure Kannada Districts and Talukas – such as Belgaum, Bijapur, Dharwar, North Kanara, Bellary, Nilgiri, South Kanara and Coorg & Talukas of Madagasira, Hosur, Krishnagiri, Kollegala and Sholapur etc. – which are already in the Indian Union, and which are ours by right.
We are aware of the grave situations in the country which are demanding our leaders’ utmost attention and require them to strain every nerve. Expected and unexpected dangers are confronting them. Through these dangers, they are struggleing hard to carry us to a successful goal… We pour our heart-felt gratitude for the services they rendering at the ALTAR of MOTHER INDIA….. Here, we wish to clear our mind that, if all are asked to sacrifice our all for the good of the country as a whole, we are ready to answer the Nation’s call…. Our highest ambition is to become worthy sons of the MOTHER….. Only, we do not wish to be made a willing prey to our neighbours.
So, we request the Government once more to pay heed to our crying need and help us by brushing aside hinderances that are hampering our natural growth, so that we may also stand like men once again, otherwise, we make bold to say, we will cry, roar and struggle hard to escape from the iron grip.
———————
Hon.Secretary
Karnataka Chamber
of Commerce, Bagalkot