Vidyavardha Sanga:

VIDYAVARDHAKA SANGHA

The Karnataka Vidyavardhaka Sangha was established in 1890. The Sangha brought people of Dharwad together to excel in various fields like art , music , drama , culture and freedom struggle . The Karnataka Vidyavardhaka Sangha's one of the greatest contribution, is uniting Kannada speaking population and the formation of Karnataka. Aluru Venkatraya was at the fore front of the "Unite Karnataka" movement.

During the early 20th century, importance of Dharwad increased and it soon became a center of freedom struggle. The first political conference in Karnataka was held in Dharwad (1920). During non cooperative movement (1921), the first ever police firing in whole of India took place in Dharwad. Dharwad participated actively in Khilafat and Quit India movements. There were many police firings and lathi charges on people of Dharwad. A monument stands in the center of Dharwad in the memory of those who died in the struggle.
From 1947 Aug 15 to 1956 Oct 31, the district of Dharwad   was in the Bombay province as the British Govt. divided it. On the 1^st Nov 1956, after the state reorganization based on the language, Dharwad became part of Karnataka State.