*Indian National Congress*

Mahatma Gandhi charged exceptional impact over the Congress all his life. In any case, the unrivaled time he progressed toward becoming President of the Party was in 1924.

Belgaum was a critical focus of the Freedom development. Lokmanya Tilak propelled his Home Rule League from Belgaum in 1916. The town had the pleasure of facilitating the All India 39th Congress session in 1924, which was the main session which was directed by Mahatma Gandhi, and the main session held in Karnataka. 'Veersoudha' is a landmark worked in memory of this session. The well in the grounds was famously known as Congress Well which was worked to meet the drinking water prerequisite of the session. The well was named as Pampa Sarovara and the Venue of the session was named as Vijaynagar, after the Hampi realm.

This Session of the Indian National Congress saw the meeting up of a group of identities who helped steer the opportunity battle and have left a blemish on our nation. Other than Mahatma Gandhi, there were stalwarts like Jawaharlal and Motilal Nehru, Lala Lajpatrai and Rajagopalchari, Sarojini Naidu and Drs. Annie Besant, Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya, and Chittaranjandas, Vallabhai Patel, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad and Saifuddin Kichalu, Rajendra Prasad, thus numerous others.

The Belgaum Session of the Congress started with the Vande Mataram being sung by well-known vocalist, Vishnu Digambar Paluskar. This was trailed by two tunes in Kannada, one of them by a little young lady by name Gangubai Hangal whose profound singing moved Gandhiji colossally. Gangubai later ended up one of the nation's remarkable performers.

Those were the days when consistently the Congress would have another President. How many things have changed since! These days, Party Presidentship appears to have turned into a family syndication, and that took forever!

Cheers!