Netaji’s birth anniversary celebrated in Ballari, Vijayanagara districts

The All India Democratic Students Organisation (AIDSO) on Friday organised programmes in Ballari and Vijayanagara districts to mark the 129th birth anniversary of freedom fighter Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose calling upon students to draw inspiration from his revolutionary ideals and work towards building a just and socialist India.

In Ballari district, the AIDSO district committee observed the occasion at the Government Higher Primary School in Amarapura village and at hostels, where floral tributes were paid to Netaji.

Addressing students, AIDSO district secretary Kambali Manjunath said that Bose dedicated his entire life to the cause of India’s freedom. He envisioned an independent nation free from poverty, hunger, exploitation and social injustice.

He said that despite decades of Independence, access to quality education remains out of reach for children from poor and working-class families.

Criticising the Congress government’s Karnataka Public Schools Scheme, he sai that the proposed closure and merger of government schools will deprive children of farmers and daily wage workers of education.

He urged students to strengthen movements to protect public education, saying this will be in line with Netaji’s vision for the country.

In Vijayanagara district, the organization organised a commemorative programme at the VNC Ground, where district secretary U. Umadevi addressed students and members.

She spoke about the formative experiences that shaped Bose’s revolutionary outlook and recalled an incident from his youth that deeply affected him after witnessing extreme poverty. This strengthened his resolve to serve the motherland, she said.

She said that Bose understood freedom not merely as liberation from British rule but also as emancipation from social and economic exploitation. She recalled his call for achieving complete independence followed by the establishment of socialism to create an egalitarian society.

Referring to contemporary challenges, she highlighted issues such as malnutrition, unemployment, commercialisation of education and growing economic inequality.

She said that policies favouring corporate interests have widened social disparities and warned against attempts to influence the thinking of young people through communal and divisive ideologies.

Stating that Bose drew inspiration from global socialist movements, including the Russian Revolution, she called upon students and youth to become the true inheritors of Netaji’s legacy by striving for a society based on equality, justice and human dignity.