Demolition of century-old structures at Badanavalu khadi centre near Mysuru sparks ire of Gandhians

Several structures at the historic Khadi and Gramodyog Centre at Badanavalu in Nanjangud near Mysuru have been demolished. | Photo Credit: Special arrangement The demolition of several structures at the historic Khadi and Gramodyog Centre at Badanavalu in Nanjangud near Mysuru, visited by Mahatma Gandhi about a century ago, has sparked the ire of Gandhians.Development workThe demolition is part of development work taken up by the Karnataka Khadi and Village Industries Board under a ₹40-crore package sanctioned by the State government.Days after the development work was launched by local MLA Darshan Dhruvanarayan in the presence of the Board’s Chief Executive Officer D.B. Natesh on August 1, 2026, earthmovers rolled into the Centre, pulling down five to six old structures on the premises, much to the chagrin of Gandhians, who associate the Centre with memories of Mahatma Gandhi.Mahatma Gandhi had visited the Khadi and Gramodyog Centre at Badanavalu twice — once in 1927 and again in 1932. KARNATAKA MYSURU 24/08/26: Several structures at the historic Khadi and Gramodyog Centre at Badanavalu in Nanjangud near here have been demolished. PHOTO: Arranged. | Photo Credit: Special arrangement Sources said at least six structures, including two where matchboxes and paper used to be manufactured, besides three to four housing units, had been pulled down. An official of the Board, however, said the structures were in a dilapidated condition. “The roof had already fallen. Only the walls remained. We had to pull it down,” the official said.The machinery and equipment used for manufacturing matchboxes and paper had already been auctioned, the official added.The structures where workers are currently engaged in handloom spinning activities have been spared. The activities are being carried out by Khadi and Village Industries Cooperative Society of Holenarsipura, which has been managing the Centre for nearly four decades. However, trees used for drying yarn have also been felled as part of the development works, rued the workers. The structures where workers are currently engaged in handloom spinning activities have been spared. File photo. | Photo Credit: SRIRAM MA Rahul Gandhi’s assuranceThe ₹40-crore allocation for development work at Badanavalu followed an assurance made during Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s visit to the Centre as part of his Bharat Jodo Yatra in 2022.Strongly criticising the demolitions, noted playwright and theatre personality Prasanna came down heavily on the State’s Congress government for what he called the “destruction of Mahatma Gandhi’s legacy”. Mahatma Gandhi had visited the Khadi and Gramodyog Centre at Badanavalu twice — once in 1927 and again in 1932. | Photo Credit: Special arrangement Describing the demolition as “shocking”, Mr. Prasanna said the State government was doing exactly what Gandhi had opposed by constructing large concrete structures in the name of development. The Centre, he said, was established by Mummadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar at the behest of Gandhiji to provide a livelihood for people in the rain-shadow region of Nanjangud, and stood as a symbol of sustainable living. It had once thrived to the point that khadi produced there was exported abroad, Prasanna recalled. Trees used for drying yarn have also been felled as part of the development works, rued the workers. | Photo Credit: Special arrangement Revival plans shelvedThough a committee of Gandhians constituted by the government to chart a roadmap for the Centre’s revival had submitted its report, the Government had not even acknowledged receiving it, he lamented.Describing the present-day rulers and officials as “ignorant,” Prasanna said all they knew how to do was sanction large sums of money and construct buildings with it. “I don’t want to spoil my tongue by telling what happens when the buildings are constructed,” he said. Published - August 24, 2026 06:03 pm IST