Shankarappa, often referred to as Khadi Shankarappa, was a highly respected leader of the freedom movement in the Shivamogga (Shimoga) district of Karnataka, in the 1930s.
Shankarappa was one of the pioneers of the Khadi movement in the district. He, along with a fellow patriot, M.N. Shetty founded Sudarshana Khadi Nilaya in Shivamogga. The Nilaya served as a meeting point for freedom fighters and members of Congress. The movement in Shivamogga grew larger under the guise of such ‘Khadi bhandars’ and eventually spread to the remaining districts in the Malnad region. Shakarappa popularised khadi and traveled extensively across the region carrying the message of Swadeshi and Swaraj to the masses, and presented the charkha as a symbol of liberation. Besides this, he also functioned as a secret messenger for the Congress. He played a key role in transmitting confidential information between congressmen in various parts of the district. His fierce sense of patriotism led him behind bars several times. He remained headstrong and turned to clandestine actions to advance the cause of freedom.
After independence, he left active politics and devoted the rest of his life to serving the cause of Khadi and rural development. He passed away on April 27, 2005. His immense contributions to the freedom movement, and the spread of the ideas of self-rule and self-sufficiency are worthy of respect.
Source: Indian Culture Portal