->MIDI at 15:32, 20 December 2021

2021-12-20T15:32:31Z

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{{Use Indian English|date=June 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2021}}
{{Short description|Indian freedom fighter, activist and journalist}}
{{Infobox person
| name = H. S. Doreswamy
| image = H. S. Doreswamy DS.jpg
| caption = Doreswamy in September 2014
| birth_name = Harohalli Srinivasaiah Doreswamy
| birth_date = {{birth date|1918|4|10|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Harohalli]], [[Kingdom of Mysore]], British Raj
| death_date = {{death date and age|2021|5|26|1918|4|10|df=y}}
| death_place = [[Bengaluru]], [[Karnataka]], India
| nationality = Indian
| other_names =
| known_for = Freedom fighter
| education = B.Sc
| alma_mater = [[Central College, Bangalore]]
| movement = [[Indian independence movement]]
| spouse = {{marriage|Lalithamma|1950|2019}}
| children = 2
| awards = [[Basava Puraskara]]<br>[[Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Awards]]
}}

'''Harohalli Srinivasaiah Doreswamy''' (10 April 1918 – 26 May 2021) was an Indian journalist and activist. He was a member of the [[Indian independence movement]], and became a [[centenarian]] in April 2018.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|last=Pandey|first=Geeta|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-38369157|title=The 98-year-old freedom fighter still battling for his idea of India|date=21 December 2016|work=[[BBC News]]|access-date=20 February 2020|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180205045906/http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-38369157|archive-date=5 February 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=10 April 2018|title=PM Modi is behaving like a 'dictator': Freedom fighter HS Doreswamy|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bengaluru/pm-modi-is-behaving-like-a-dictator-doreswamy/articleshow/63687477.cms|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180411031353/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bengaluru/pm-modi-is-behaving-like-a-dictator-doreswamy/articleshow/63687477.cms|archive-date=11 April 2018|website=[[The Times of India]]}}</ref> He ran the publication house of ''Sahitya Mandira'' and the [[Indian nationalist]] newspaper ''Pauravani'' during the [[British Raj]] and the period afterwards.<ref name=":4" /> The historian [[Ramachandra Guha]] describes him as the "conscience of the state ([[Karnataka]])" due to his activism.<ref name=":5">{{Cite news|last=Bharadwaj|first=K.V. Aditya|date=20 March 2020|title=I think it is time I launch my campaign: H.S. Doreswamy|language=en-IN|work=[[The Hindu]]|url=https://www.thehindu.com/society/i-think-it-is-time-i-launch-my-campaign-hs-doreswamy/article31110267.ece|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200321142300/https://www.thehindu.com/society/i-think-it-is-time-i-launch-my-campaign-hs-doreswamy/article31110267.ece|archive-date=21 March 2020|issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

== Early life and education ==
Doreswamy was born in the village of [[Harohalli]], in the erstwhile [[Kingdom of Mysore]], a princely state of the [[British Indian Empire]]. He was raised by his grandfather Shamanna after his parents died when he was five years old.<ref name=":0" /> He had an elder brother Seetharam who would later become the [[Mayors of Bangalore|mayor of Bangalore]] in independent India.<ref name=":2" /> His grandfather was a ''shanubhog'' (village accountant) and a nominated member of the representative assembly. Doreswamy completed his primary education in his village and then went to [[Bangalore]] to complete his higher education. He was enrolled in the [[Government Intermediate College]] of Bangalore for his [[Higher secondary school|higher secondary]] education and later graduated with a [[Bachelor of Science]] degree from the [[Central College of Bangalore]].<ref>{{Cite book|title=Freedom Fighters Remember|publisher=Publication Division - [[Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (India)]]|year=1997|isbn=81-230-0575-X|editor-last=Joshi|editor-first=Naveen|location=India|pages=160}}</ref>

== Independence movement ==
After finishing his education in June 1942, he began teaching mathematics and physics at a high school in Bangalore. In August, when the [[Quit India Movement]] had begun, he became involved in setting up small scale [[time bomb]]s in postboxes and record rooms to burn official documents as a method adopted to disrupt the functioning of the [[British Raj]].<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite news|last=Aravind|first=Indulekha|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/why-freedom-fighter-harohalli-srinivasaiah-doreswamys-mission-is-still-not-quite-complete/articleshow/60040029.cms?from=mdr|title=Why freedom fighter Harohalli Srinivasaiah Doreswamy's mission is still not quite complete|date=15 August 2017|work=[[The Economic Times]]|access-date=20 February 2020|archive-date=26 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210526161851/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/why-freedom-fighter-harohalli-srinivasaiah-doreswamys-mission-is-still-not-quite-complete/articleshow/60040029.cms?from=mdr|url-status=live}}</ref> He along with some associates also became involved in organising protests and [[general strike]]s in [[Mysore State]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/oldest-living-gandhian-looks-back-in-awe/article29564644.ece|title=Oldest living Gandhian looks back in awe|last=Giriprakash|first=K.|date=1 October 2019|website=[[Business Line]]|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191010103732/https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/oldest-living-gandhian-looks-back-in-awe/article29564644.ece|archive-date=10 October 2019}}</ref> He collaborated with N.D. Shankar, a freedom fighter and [[Communism|communist]] union leader in organising a 14 day general strike at three textile mills, namely Raja, Minerva and [[Binny Mills]], which saw the participation of 8,000 workers. Subsequently, there were strikes in various factories and mills across the region over the following 3 to 30 days. He also formed associations with A.G. Ramachandra Rao and [[Alapati Venkataramaiah|Sardar Venkataramaiah]] who were underground at the time.<ref name=":2">{{Cite book|title=Freedom Fighters Remember|publisher=Publication Division - [[Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (India)]]|year=1997|isbn=81-230-0575-X|editor-last=Joshi|editor-first=Naveen|location=India|pages=161}}</ref>

In 1943, one of his bomb suppliers, namely Ramachandra got caught by the police with time bombs in his possession who named Doreswamy as a contact. Following which, he was arrested and put under [[indefinite detention]] in [[Bangalore Central Jail]].<ref name=":0" /> He stated that during his detention he contacted his supplier and encouraged him to confess to being the one responsible for bombing postboxes so that one of them could be released and continue the operation. Despite the efforts, the authorities retained him in custody and denied him an opportunity for a trial.<ref name=":1" /> The jail at the time was being used to hold [[political prisoner]]s including his brother, H.S. Seetharam. He described the prison to have been converted into a place of learning where he studied and played volleyball with other prisoners. He learned to speak [[Tamil language|Tamil]] and [[Hindi]] from other independence movement activists during this time. On 26 January 1944, the prisoners including him were [[beaten up]] by the guards, confined in their rooms and denied food for celebrating the declaration of [[Purna Swaraj]]. He was later released in the summer of 1944 after spending 14 months in jail at a time when the government was releasing political prisoners.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" />

After his release from prison, Doreswamy established a publication house and book store by the name of ''Sahitya Mandira'' in Bangalore. He later moved to [[Mysore]] on the request of a dying friend to take over the operation of his newspaper, ''Pauravani'' which was running at a loss at the time.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|url=https://www.rediff.com/getahead/report/achiever-99-yr-old-freedom-fighter-jail-was-like-university-for-me-/20170815.htm|title=99 yr old freedom fighter: 'Jail was like university for me'|last=Rajappa|first=Amoolya|date=15 August 2017|website=[[Rediff]]|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180303145512/http://www.rediff.com/getahead/report/achiever-99-yr-old-freedom-fighter-jail-was-like-university-for-me-/20170815.htm|archive-date=3 March 2018|access-date=21 February 2020}}</ref> In 1947, during the [[Political integration of India]], the [[Maharaja of Mysore]] was reluctant to [[Instrument of Accession|accede to the Indian Union]], which resulted in the "Mysore Chalo" movement to pressurize the maharaja into acceding. Due to the movement, congress leaders were arrested and press freedom was curbed by the [[Kingdom of Mysore]]. Doreswamy among other journalists are noted to have continued publishing their newspapers from undisclosed locations.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Chinnappa|first=K. Jeevan|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/mysore-chalo-freedom-fighters-go-back-in-time/article5269282.ece|title=Mysore Chalo: Freedom fighters go back in time|date=25 October 2013|work=The Hindu|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200221140206/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/mysore-chalo-freedom-fighters-go-back-in-time/article5269282.ece|archive-date=21 February 2020|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> The ''Pauravani,'' which was operating as an [[Indian nationalism|Indian nationalist]] newspaper was being published from the city of [[Hindupur]], [[Madras State]] situated at the border of the Kingdom of Mysore.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Shashidhar|first=Dr. Melkunde|title=A History of Freedom and Unification Movement in Karnataka|publisher=Laxmi Book Publication|year=2016|isbn=978-1-329-82501-7|location=India|pages=171}}</ref> In an interview, Doreswamy stated that a teacher named Sheshagiri assisted him in circulating the newspaper at the time. He also stated that literary figures like [[R. K. Narayan|R.K. Narayan]] and K.S. Narasimhaswamy were frequent visitors at his book store during and after the independence movement.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WMYe0S6PQgo|title=TV9 -- "Nanna Kathe" With Freedom Fighter H S Doraiswamy - Full|date=28 August 2011|work=[[TV9 (Kannada)]]|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160416001008/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WMYe0S6PQgo|archive-date=16 April 2016}}</ref>

== Post-independence activities ==
During the 1950s, Doreswamy participated in the [[Bhoodan movement]] and the movement for the [[Unification of Karnataka]].<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bengaluru/fighting-for-causes-doreswamy-all-set-to-step-into-centenary-year/articleshow/58087251.cms|title=Fighting for causes, Doreswamy all set to step into centenary year {{!}} Bengaluru News|last=BR|first=Rohith|date=9 April 2017|website=The Times of India|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170417035522/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bengaluru/fighting-for-causes-doreswamy-all-set-to-step-into-centenary-year/articleshow/58087251.cms|archive-date=17 April 2017|access-date=20 February 2020}}</ref> He was jailed for four months in 1975 after he sent a letter to [[Indira Gandhi]] threatening to launch an agitation against her for "acting like a dictator" during [[The Emergency (India)|the Emergency]] in India.<ref name=":0" /> He was active during the [[JP Movement]] against the Emergency rule. During the 1980s, he was involved in various movements for the rights of farmers and other [[marginalised]] communities, and later became active in the [[India Against Corruption]] movement.<ref name=":5" />

In later years, Doreswamy was involved in a number of agitations and committees working against the encroachment of water bodies and dumping of garbage near impoverished areas in and outside Bangalore.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/151018/nation-current-affairs/article/residents-stand-against-complex-near-sankey-tank|title=Residents stand up against complex near Sankey tank|date=18 October 2015|website=Deccan Chronicle|access-date=22 February 2020|archive-date=22 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200222170815/https://www.deccanchronicle.com/151018/nation-current-affairs/article/residents-stand-against-complex-near-sankey-tank|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://bangaloremirror.indiatimes.com/bangalore/others/hes-frail-but-hearty/articleshow/59552597.cms|title=He's frail, but hearty|date=12 July 2017|website=[[Bangalore Mirror]]|access-date=22 February 2020|first3=12:24|archive-date=22 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200222172529/https://bangaloremirror.indiatimes.com/bangalore/others/hes-frail-but-hearty/articleshow/59552597.cms|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":3" /> ''[[The Hindu]]'' credits his activism in Bangalore with having led to the construction of six new waste processing plants in the city in 2014.<ref name=":5" /> In October 2014, he led an anti-encroachment protest in Bangalore with the support of [[A. T. Ramaswamy]] and the [[Aam Aadmi Party]], demanding the implementation of [[Land grabbing|Land Grabbing]] Prohibition Act, 2007 from the state government. The protest came to an end after 38 days with the government yielding to the demands.<ref>{{Cite web|date=16 October 2014|title=Dharna against land grabbing to end today|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/141016/nation-current-affairs/article/dharna-against-land-grabbing-end-today|access-date=22 February 2020|website=[[Deccan Chronicle]]|archive-date=22 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200222170813/https://www.deccanchronicle.com/141016/nation-current-affairs/article/dharna-against-land-grabbing-end-today|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2016, he launched a 24/7 [[dharna]] (picketing) outside the [[Suvarna Vidhana Soudha]] when sessions were being held in the legislative assembly in [[Belgaum]] demanding the grant of land to the landless in the state which forced the [[Chief minister]], [[Siddaramaiah]] to personally give him assurances that the promise will be kept. He was also involved in agitations against the eviction of [[adivasi]]s from their tribal lands in Kodagu district.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Aravind|first=Indulekha|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/why-freedom-fighter-harohalli-srinivasaiah-doreswamys-mission-is-still-not-quite-complete/articleshow/60040029.cms?from=mdr|title=Why freedom fighter Harohalli Srinivasaiah Doreswamy's mission is still not quite complete|date=15 August 2017|work=[[The Economic Times]]|access-date=22 February 2020|archive-date=26 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210526161901/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/why-freedom-fighter-harohalli-srinivasaiah-doreswamys-mission-is-still-not-quite-complete/articleshow/60040029.cms?from=mdr|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":3" />

Doreswamy took active participation in the [[Citizenship Amendment Act protests|2019–2020 protests in India]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/bengaluru/2020/feb/10/102-yr-old-doreswamy-vows-protest-against-caa-every-month-till-2024-2101319.html|title=102-year-old Doreswamy vows protest against CAA every month till 2024|date=10 February 2020|website=The New Indian Express|access-date=22 February 2020|archive-date=21 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200221172540/https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/bengaluru/2020/feb/10/102-yr-old-doreswamy-vows-protest-against-caa-every-month-till-2024-2101319.html|url-status=live}}</ref> According to him, the country's democracy was being threatened by the government of [[Narendra Modi]] and [[Amit Shah]] and that the situation created by them is becoming similar to that created by the [[British Raj]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.deccanherald.com/content/669406/modi-shah-rule-danger-democracy.html|title=Modi-Shah rule is danger for democracy: Freedom fighter Doreswamy|date=9 April 2018|website=[[Deccan Herald]]|language=en|access-date=22 February 2020|archive-date=22 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200222175811/https://www.deccanherald.com/content/669406/modi-shah-rule-danger-democracy.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=It's Freedom Struggle All Over Again for 101-Year-Old HS Doreswamy Who's Now Fighting the CAA|url=https://www.news18.com/news/india/its-freedom-struggle-all-over-again-for-101-year-old-hs-doreswamy-whos-now-fighting-the-caa-2489683.html|last=Periera|first=Stacy|date=6 February 2020|website=[[News18]]|access-date=19 February 2020|archive-date=19 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200219223915/https://www.news18.com/news/india/its-freedom-struggle-all-over-again-for-101-year-old-hs-doreswamy-whos-now-fighting-the-caa-2489683.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In response, the [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] in [[Karnataka]] had attacked him by alleging that he was a Pakistani agent and an "anti national". The party justified the attacks stating that he had done the unthinkable by criticising the prime minister, [[Narendra Modi]].<ref name=":5" />

== Personal life ==
In 1950, Doreswamy married Lalithamma, who was 19 years of age at the time, and with whom he later had two children.<ref name=":0" /> Lalithamma died on 17 December 2019 at the age of 89.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://starofmysore.com/freedom-fighter-h-s-doreswamys-wife-lalithamma-passes-away/|title=Freedom Fighter H.S. Doreswamy's wife Lalithamma passes away|website=[[Star of Mysore]]|date=18 December 2019|access-date=21 September 2020|archive-date=22 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200222095458/https://starofmysore.com/freedom-fighter-h-s-doreswamys-wife-lalithamma-passes-away/|url-status=live}}</ref> Doreswamy died on 26 May 2021 due to cardiac arrest.<ref>{{Cite web|date=26 May 2021|title=Freedom fighter H S Doreswamy passes away at 103|url=https://www.deccanherald.com/state/top-karnataka-stories/freedom-fighter-h-s-doreswamy-passes-away-at-103-990191.html|access-date=26 May 2021|website=Deccan Herald|language=en|archive-date=26 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210526161926/https://www.deccanherald.com/state/top-karnataka-stories/karnataka-minister-seeks-covid-19-relief-package-for-teaching-non-teaching-staff-in-unaided-schools-990200.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Awards ==
* 2017 – Conferred the [[Gandhi Global Family medals and awards#Mahatma Gandhi Seva Medal|Gandhi Seva Award]] for providing outstanding service to impoverished sections of the society by the [[Chief Minister of Karnataka]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.deccanherald.com/content/635959/doreswamy-feeted-gandhi-seva-award.html|title=Doreswamy feeted with Gandhi Seva Award|date=3 October 2017|website=[[Deccan Herald]]|access-date=22 February 2020|archive-date=22 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200222095458/https://www.deccanherald.com/content/635959/doreswamy-feeted-gandhi-seva-award.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
* 2018 – Awarded the [[Basava Puraskara]] by the [[Government of Karnataka]] through the release of 2018 national awardees list.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://starofmysore.com/national-awards-to-h-s-doreswamy-c-chandrashekar-t-n-krishnan/|title=National Awards to H.S. Doreswamy, C. Chandrashekar, T. N. Krishnan|date=12 July 2019|website=Star of Mysore|access-date=22 February 2020|archive-date=22 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200222095458/https://starofmysore.com/national-awards-to-h-s-doreswamy-c-chandrashekar-t-n-krishnan/|url-status=live}}</ref>
* 2019 – [[Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Awards]] for Lifetime Achievement.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/karnataka/2019/apr/23/hs-doreswamy-gets-ramnath-goenka-award-1967886.html|title=HS Doreswamy gets Ramnath Goenka Award|date=23 April 2019|website=[[The New Indian Express]]|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190424145924/https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/karnataka/2019/apr/23/hs-doreswamy-gets-ramnath-goenka-award-1967886.html|archive-date=24 April 2019}}</ref>

== Bibliography ==

* ''From Princely Autocracy to People's Government'', Bangalore: Sahitya Mandira, 1993.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Guha|first=Ramachandra|title=India After Gandhi|publisher=[[Harper Collins]]|year=2007|isbn=978-0-330-50554-3|location=India|pages=6|author-link=Ramachandra Guha|title-link=India After Gandhi}}</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist|2}}

== External links ==
* [http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/HS-Doreswamy HS Doreswamy: Latest News, Videos and Photos of HS Doreswamy at "The Times of India"]
* [http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/agitation-will-go-on/article6427475.ece ‘Agitation will go on’]
* [https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/closing-in-on-100-and-still-fighting-the-good-fight/article17898964.ece Closing in on 100, and still continuing the good fight]
* [https://thefederal.com/the-eighth-column/hs-doreswamy-when-the-quest-for-freedom-continues/ HS Doreswamy: When the quest for freedom continues]
* [https://cjp.org.in/hs-doreswamy-the-man-who-wont-give-up/ HS Doreswamy: The Man who won't Give Up]
* [https://www.news18.com/news/india/its-freedom-struggle-all-over-again-for-101-year-old-hs-doreswamy-whos-now-fighting-the-caa-2489683.html It's Freedom Struggle All Over Again for 101-Year-Old HS Doreswamy Who’s Now Fighting the CAA]
* [https://starofmysore.com/tag/h-s-doreswamy/ H.S. Doreswamy Archives]

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Doreswamy, H. S.}}
[[Category:1918 births]]
[[Category:2021 deaths]]
[[Category:Indian centenarians]]
[[Category:Indian independence activists from Karnataka]]
[[Category:People from Mysore district]]
[[Category:Indian publishers (people)]]
[[Category:Gandhians]]
[[Category:Kannada people]]
[[Category:Indian male journalists]]
[[Category:Journalists from Karnataka]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian journalists]]
[[Category:Men centenarians]]

H. S. Doreswamy - Revision history

->MIDI at 15:32, 20 December 2021