Mangalore, May 07: It has been reported that birthday of Dr.Narayana Subbarao Hardikar, congress politician and freedom fighter, who founded Congress Seva Dal, was celebrated at city’s district congress office in a grand manner.
Hardika was born in Dharwar in 1889 to Subbarao and Yamunabai.He studied medicine at the College of Physicians and Surgeons Calcutta and then went to the USA for higher education.
In 1916, Dr.Hardikar completed his M.Sc in Public Health from the University of Michigan. During his years in America, Hardikar met and became a close associate of Lala Lajpat Rai.Hardikar became an active participant in many political activities in America.
Hardikar and his Hubli Seva Mandal gained national prominence after they refused to apologize to British authorities to gain a commutation in their prison sentences. This resistance prompted the congress to set up an organization along the lines of the Mandal to groom a band of volunteers to combat the British Raj.
During the Kakinada congress session of 1923, a 13 member committee under Hardikar was formed to look at the establishment of such an organization. The Hindustan Seva Mandal was thus formed in 1923 and later rechristened the Seva Dal.Dr.Hardikar was elected general secretary of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress committee.
The Dal played a stellar role in the Civil Disobedience Movement.
Dr.Hardikar helped found the Karnataka Health Institute at Ghataprabha and he was two term Rajya Sabha MP and was conferred the Padma Bhushan in 1958.Dr.Hardikar died on 26th August 1975.To commemorate his birth centenary the department of Posts issued a commemorative stamp in his honour in 1989.
Senior member of the organization H A Ashraf paid his homage by offering flowers on the portrait of Hardikar.
B.Vishwanath, convener of the organization, Hema U, district Mahila convener and congress seva Dal volunteers were present.
Photo source: Satish Kapikad
