The seventh year since my Belgaum visit, but every incident of that visit is encrypted in my mind. From Karnataka police stopping our SUV after seeing a Maharashtra number plate, participating in the black day protest to great escape from Belgaum on 1st Nov evening. Well, many might not be aware as to what I am talking about. Black Day,the great escape, protest rally blah..blah!!
What exactly is the significance of 1st November in Belgaum? On 1st of November, Kannada Rajyotsava is celebrated all around the state. The day when Karnataka state was formed. However, Marathi speaking region of Belgaum & other border areas was allocated to Karnataka through conspiracy. When 80 to 90% Marathi speaking population reside in border areas there was no question of allocating these regions to Karnataka.
As a result, since last 6 decades, Marathi speaking people of Belgaum & border areas are fighting to come to their Maharashtra. A protest rally is held in border areas in this regard. A total ?bandh? is observed on 1st Nov in Belgaum & border areas. Marathi speaking people participate in large numbers in this protest rally carrying black flags & tying black ribbons around their arms.
Our team of ShivSainiks reached Belgaum on 31st October 2010 noon. As soon as we entered Karnataka we got the idea of what was coming. Even though our vehicle had a proper Tourist permit it was stopped by Karnataka police just because it had Maharashtra number plate. It was due to a local guy who was in our team we were let off without much questioning. After meeting ShivSena leaders at ShivSena office in Belgaum we understood the intensity of the Belgaum issue. Next meeting was with prominent Marathi leader of Belgaum at his bungalow.
This was when we came to know that Karnataka police was keeping watch on us as soon as we entered the state. After questioning our driver they warned us of not indulging in any kind of unlawful activity on 1st November. The hospitality we received from the people of Belgaum was amazing, to say the least. Everyone took notice of us and was extremely helpful & friendly with our entire group. In fact, they were happy that youth from various areas of Maharashtra had come to Belgaum to know about the Belgaum struggle. After meeting with Mr Dalvi one of the prominent personalities in border area the whole picture of Belgaum struggle was in front of our eyes.
One 1st November morning, our group of ShivSainiks were all set to take part in the protest rally. Most of us were dressed in black attire. The rally started & chants of ?Jay Maharashtra?, ?Belgaum belongs to Maharashtra?, ?Belgaon amchya hakkache nahi konachya Bapache? (Belgaum is ours & doesn?t belong to anyone?s father) was echoing all around Belgaum. The anger, emotion, passion, determination of last six decades was seen in the rally. Marathi people of all age-groups participated in the rally. It was surprising to see a large number or Kids & school and college going girls participation in the protest rally.
As the rally ended and became a huge public gathering we were surprised that the organizers of the rally mentioned about us to the large crowd gathered in the rally. They even requested us to interact with the large audience. We never expected this gesture from the Marathi leaders present in the rally. Some of my friends expressed the views of ShivSena about Belgaum struggle in the rally & how Internet & Social Media can be used as a powerful tool in the Belgaum struggle. Lots of people met us, shook hands with us, took our contact numbers. Within few hours we all had become celebrities for this people.
However, information had reached to Karnataka police about our active involvement in the protest rally & they had planned to put us behind bars. After knowing this, Marathi leaders of the area advised us to leave Belgaum as soon as possible because at any cost they did not want us to be troubled by the local police. Even in such a tense situation, Mr. Dalvi insisted us that we should come to his residence for lunch and then leave from Belgaum. He also assured that his residence was extremely safe & Karnataka police did not have guts to enter his residence.
I still remember an incident which happened at that time. There was a Marathi family staying next to Mr Dalvi & when they came to know that we had come from Maharashtra to participate in the protest rally, they invited us home by saying these words ?Maharashtra madhun amchya sathi alalat tumhi, amchya suddha Ghari yeun ja? which meant ?you guys have come from Maharashtra to support us so please come inside our home & accept our hospitality?. The love Marathi people of border areas have for Maharashtra is simply unbelievable.
After having lunch & interacting with few local reporters we finally left for Maharashtra. When we left Belgaum one thing that we noticed that there was a car continuously following us till we reach the Maharashtra border. As soon as we reached near Maharashtra border we waved Good Bye to our Marathi brothers who were following us continuously in their car so that we can reach our destination safely.
Once we crossed the border & entered Maharashtra each one of us breathe the huge sigh of relief. There was a feeling of satisfaction as to we were part of something very very special. As soon as our SUV reached Mumbai apart from information which we gathered about the Belgaum struggle & 1st November Black Day protest there were also happy memories of our Marathi brothers whom we met in Belgaum which will remain with us forever.
-Jay Maharashtra
To someone from South, this situation is not unique. Hosur, in TN and just 40 km from Bangalore, is a Telugu speaking area. Over the years percentages changed the way it changed in belgaum / belgavi. Devikulam taluk in Kerala is a Tamil dominated area while Manjeshwar taluk is kannada dominated. MLAs from these two constituencies take their oath in kerala assembly in Tamil n Kannada respectively. When asked about hosur, rajaji reportedly said that language must not be the only criterion but the main criterion.
Same happened with belgavi / belgaum. South of vindhya is so linguistically diverse, it’s impossible to draw perfect borders on linguistic lines. There are Tamil groups who stake claim over tirupati. They claim that at the time of Independence, it was a Tamil dominated area. I have heard that a tehsil in ramtek in nagpur looks more like Andhra than Maharashtra though I can’t verify this personally.
Instead of two states settling the issue once and for all, things have come to a stage from where there is no going back.
You are point is valid to an extent but I haven’t heard people of these areas fighting to come in a particular state for over 6 Decades. Not only protest, but so many people living in border areas have sacrificed their lives so that Belgaon and other border areas come in Maharashtra. Around 69 ShivSainiks have laid down their lives for this issue. So this issue is a bit different from the one you raised above. Even today the fight is going on with same passion & enthusiasm. You can check 1st November Belgaon Black Day 2017 Pics which are going viral on the Internet. The sad part is that apart from ShivSena no other party in Maharashtra is that bothered about the issue. The verdict is now pending in the Supreme Court just hope that the Marathi brothers living in border areas get justice.
At the same time, you must think from the perspective of a kannadiga too. Some sources say that in a 1881 survey, belgavi had 64% kannadigas. Even now, as far as I know, it’s not a majority Marathi area. They have a point too. Could be wrong too.
Other border issues were settled politically way before. This issue continued because some people on both sides used it for some mileage. Mahajan committee could have settled it with some compromises by both sides but didn’t happen. Now, with supreme Court verdict, one side is certainly going to be grieved. Still, there is time for an amicable solution.
When Belgaon was given to Karnataka, around 70 to 80% of Population in border areas were Marathi. ? In the Samyukta Maharashtra movement there were 105 martyrs, out of those first 5 were from Belgaon. This shows the relationship between Belgaon & Maharashtra. yeah, I agree that issue could have sorted out earlier but due to differences in Political Parties in Maharastra issue is still lingering. Apart from ShivSena, no other party seems to be serious about the issue and only uses for its political gains. Yeah now all hopes on Supreme Court. Just hope that Marathi brothers in Belgaon get the justice.
I too remember these…