The book “Belgaum Congress Session: A Pictorial Narrative of Mahatma Gandhi’s Presidential Debut” was written by Dr. Siby K. Joseph and Dr. Basavaraj Akki to commemorate the centenary of Gandhi’s presidency of the Indian National Congress was translated into Malayalam by P.Harindranath ,a noted historian and author of books on History and Gandhian thought. The book was published by Mathrubhumi Books,Kozhikode.It was formally released in Gandhi Fest in Vadakara ,Kerala by Prof. M.N.Karasseri by giving a copy to Dr.K.P.Ammukutty on October 4,2025.The delegates and the large number of participants witnessed the event .
The translator Shri P. Harindranath and coauthor Dr. Basavaraj N Akki and other dignitaries were present in the book release function. Dr. Basavaraj N Akki said “The 1924 Session (39th) of the Indian National Congress was held at Belguam was an important event for two reasons. It was the only session held in Karnataka and the only session presided over by MAHATMA GANDHI. The session was succeeded in attracting the Kannadigas towards the freedom movement. ” Dr. Siby K.Joseph thanked Shri P. Harindranath for his commendable work of translating the book.
The book provides a pictorial narrative of this historic event, highlighting Gandhi’s leadership, vision, and philosophy.
The book was translated into Hindi by Vivek Kr. Shaw, a research scholar at Mahatma Gandhi International Hindi University, It was also translated into Kannada. Both the Hindi and Kannada translations were released on January 30, 2025. To make the book more accessible, the original English and Hindi edition were uploaded to archive.in.
https://archive.org/details/the-1924-belgaum-congress-session-a-pictorial-narrative-of-mahatma-gandhis-presidential-debut
https://archive.org/details/belgaum-congress-1924-session-pictorialbook-hindi
The book was a project of the Library and Research Centre of Sevagram Ashram Pratishthan, Wardha,Maharashtra.
Some appreciations about the book
This illustrated account of the Belagavi session, written and compiled by Siby K. Joseph and Basavaraj N. Akki, is a very useful and timely publication in the event’s centenary year. It is often said that a picture is more valuable than a thousand words since visual information is easier for our brains to process and comprehend. This pictorial narration allows us to see how carefully the event was organized. It gives the reader important glimpses into Karnataka’s role in the national movement, and will be very valuable to the students. The authors need to be commended for undertaking this work with passion and devotion.
Prof. John S Moolakkattu, Chief Editor, Gandhi Marg, Journal of Gandhi Peace Foundation, New Delhi
The 1924 Belgaum Session of the Indian National Congress, presided over by Mahatma Gandhi, marked a pivotal moment in India’s struggle for independence. As the country navigated the complexities of colonial rule, the Belgaum Session became a crucial juncture in the quest for freedom. In this pictorial exposition, the book delves into the circumstances that led to Gandhi’s acceptance of Presidentship of the session, the organizational details of a session that required meticulous planning and execution, the key resolutions that were passed – and much more. The narrative provides a good glimpse of Gandhi’s leadership and his vision of non-violent resistance and constructive work. It also affords a deeper understanding of how Gandhi’s philosophy and strategy shaped the trajectory of India’s independence movement, setting the stage for revolutionary change in the future.
Prof.Jeevan Kumar
Former Director, Centre for Gandhian Studies, Bangalore University, and Managing Trustee, Sarvodaya International Trust.
The book is being translated into other Indian languages for wider dissemination.
