Not many know that Karnataka, too, witnessed a massacre akin to Punjab’s Jallianwala Bagh. Vidurashwatha, a quiet village in Chikkballapur district, became a tragic site in India’s freedom struggle on April 25, 1938. To revive this fading memory, a puppet show using Karnataka’s ancient string puppetry tradition will recount the incident and its historical significance.
Anupama Hoskere, director of the performance, said the initiative aims to spotlight Karnataka’s role in the independence movement. “Our state’s string puppetry has existed for over 6,000 years. It’s visually rich and rooted in storytelling, making it perfect to engage newer generations with historic narratives,” she explained.
The massacre at Vidurashwatha occurred when local Congress leaders and villagers from Hindupur and Gauribidanur assembled during a local fair to stage a peaceful flag-hoisting protest. The event was to be held near the village temple. However, British authorities, anticipating the satyagraha, enforced prohibitory orders to prevent the gathering.
Despite the restrictions, hundreds gathered peacefully, enduring the afternoon heat under trees. Around 1:30 PM, British police opened fire, continuing for nearly four hours. While official reports downplayed the death toll at 10, eyewitnesses claimed over 100 lives were lost.
The puppet show, which aims to rekindle public awareness, will be staged at the National Gallery of Modern Art, Vasanth Nagar, this Saturday at 5 PM.
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