Martyr Mallappa Dhanshetti was born in the year 1898. Originally, he belonged to Valsang Tal. Akkalkot but resided at Solapur for many years. Mallappa was in service of the Pandharkar firm in Solapur as a clerk (Munim). Having a strong bent toward an exercise regime, he had a strong build.
Mallappa used to wear a feta (turban). But being influenced by Mahatma Gandhi's principles, he started wearing a Gandhi Topi (hat). Due to his interest in social work, he was active in the Executive Committee of Solapur Talim Mandal and Shraddhanand Samaj. He was also a strong pillar of Shri Siddheshwar Mandal. Due to his constant work in public affairs with an impartial and selfless attitude, he became a popular figure. With this influence, he inspired many people to take part in freedom marches, prabhat pheris, and the alcohol ban movement and thereby, join the freedom struggle.
Mahatma Gandhi was arrested on 5 May 1930 during the Civil Disobedience Movement. This arrest was opposed at the national level. Mill workers in Solapur also reacted against it by going on strike and joining in large numbers in the protest march. The situation became so critical that the British officials and their families had to take shelter in the railway station building.
The seriousness of the matter can be grasped from the archival record. Collector Henry Knight wrote a letter to the Central Government saying, “18000 mill workers have been released, it is not possible to say what they will do tomorrow, 100 armed police will be ineffective. Tomorrow they will probably destroy my bungalow and office too!”
During this period, Salt Satyagraha was at its peak at the national level. Gandhi appealed to the public to picket the liquor shops wherever there were no beaches. Thus, on 8 May 1930, the mob started a similar procession at Sholapur. Learning this, Collector Henry Knight and D. S.P. Pay Flair reached the place near the procession. To control the situation, police arrested 9-10 people from the crowd, including some innocent ones. Their release was demanded by active Satyagrahis but to no use.
However, to avoid any violence, Mallappa urged the people to go home peacefully. He handled the situation very tactfully and moved the youngsters also from that place. Being annoyed with the situation and the increasing influence of Mallappa, Collector Henry Knight While ordered firing on the mob. Shankar Shivdare, a young man from the public who ran towards the collector's vehicle was shot dead in the firing. He became the first victim of the firing. Atrocities of the police continued, and some people were killed and several others were injured in this indiscriminate firing. The situation became worst.
People put the police station and the court building on fire, as a symbol of protest against the tyrannical colonial rule. Two policemen at the Mangalvar Peth police station were burnt alive. The Collector called for the help of the army. On the night of 12 January 1930, the military took control of Sholapur, declaring Martial Law in the city.
Faujdar Imamsab falsely testified to four people in the arson case and arrested them. The army captured Mallappa Dhanshetti, Qurban Hussain, Jagannath Shinde, and Shrikisan Sarda and tied them with ropes, and drove them around the city in open trucks. They were severely beaten, and their legs were bruised. The purpose was to terrorize the common people. In the crime of murder, four people including Mallappa Dhanshetti were hanged to death on 12 January 1931.