Mahatma Gandhi

Mysore Dewan

M Visvesvaraya

Bengaluru

Lalbagh

Nandi Hills

Indian Institute of Science

Bengaluru City Railway Station

If you ask someone what their preferred train travel class is, the answer most likely would be first class. However,had declined a first-class train ticket offered by the thenSir. Read on to know how and why Bapu preferred third-class train travel over first class.During Gandhiji’s first visit in 1915, well-known author, GA Nateshan, of Madras was collecting funds from all over India for Bapu’s struggle in South Africa. Famous litterateur DV Gundappa fromcollected about Rs 1,800 and sent the same to Nateshan and also invited Mahatma to visit Bengaluru. Gandhiji accepted the invitation and came to the city with Kasturba and Nateshan on May 8, 1915 by Madras Mail. He was given a rousing reception. Youngsters got so carried away that they wanted to haul his carriage themselves but he preferred to walk the distance to the guest house.His first meeting was arranged at DVG’s Social Service League where he unveiled the portrait of Gopalakrishan Gokhale. The following evening, he attended a function atwhere Sir KP Puttanna Chetty presented a citation on behalf of the people of Bengaluru.The same evening, Dewan Sir M Visvesvaraya arrived from Mysore to meet Gandhiji. He asked the organisers to get a first-class ticket for Gandhiji’s onward journey but Gandhiji told him that, even if he was forcibly put into the first-class compartment, he would get into a third-class compartment at the next station.During his third visit in 1927, which was a longer and memorable one, Gandhiji had fallen ill and was advised complete rest. The Mysore Government offered to take care of his well-being and made arrangements for his stay atwith Kasturba, his secretory Mahadeva Desai, and others. After his health improved, he moved to Kumara Krupa Guest House near Golf Course and stayed there for nearly two months. He used to hold prayer meetings in the evenings after which he would sit under a tree meeting people. Even today, the spot is preserved as a monument.During his long stay here, he visited many institutions and places and attended public meetings. He came to know that the National Dairy Institute in Adugodi was known for breeding local varieties of cattle. Curious to know more about the process, he visited the institute for some time. He was very much impressed by a very high-yielding cow by name Jill. He even stood for a photograph along with the cow. He signed the visitors’ book as ‘A farmer from Sabarmati’.Gandhiji also visitedand urged the scientists to go into areas of research which would help the poor.On complete recovery, when he was ready to leave the city, he was given a grand and respectful farewell in the Lalbagh Glass House where about fifty-thousand people had gathered to be a part of the event.He was presented with the Mysuru sandalwood and ivory and a purse of ten thousand rupees. In his speech, Gandhiji praised the Dewans of Mysore for their role in developing the state as a role model for the rest of the country.Many names in the city like Gandhi Bazar, Gandhi Nagar, Mahatma Gandhi Road, Gandhi Bhavan, Gandhi Sahitya Sangha, etc. indicate the influence of the Mahatma on the city. Similarly, many statues of Gandhiji also stand as testimony to the city’s regard to the Mahatma. A plaque indisplayed Gandhiji’s appreciation of the people of this region.(The author is a historian)