1924 Belagavi Session of Indian National Congress

News: The 100th Anniversary of the historic 1924 Belagavi Session is being celebrated in Belagavi, Karnataka. 

About the Belagavi Session 

• It was the 39th session of the INC which took place on December 26-27, 1924, in Belagavi, Karnataka. 
• The session was presided over by Mahatma Gandhi, marking the only time he served as the Congress President. 
• The session saw participation by several Congress leaders including Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Sarojini Naidu, and Khilafat movement leaders Muhammad Ali Jauhar and Shaukat Ali, among others.  

Significance 

• Focus on Self Reliance: The use of Khadi symbolised Gandhi’s vision for a self-reliant India. Khadi was a means for India to break free from her economic dependence on British textiles. Thus, he urged the masses to take up spinning and weaving Khadi. 
• Communal Harmony: Gandhi considered communal harmony to be pre-requisite for freedom and unity of India. He believed that all human beings deserve equal respect, irrespective of religion. 
• Organisational Reforms: Gandhi attempted to widen the base of the movement by reducing the membership fees by 90%, paving the way for greater participation of the masses.