Lingaikya Poojya Doddappa Appa, the 7th Mahadasoha Peethadhi pati, was a founder President of Sharanbasveshawar Vidya Vardhaka Sangha, Kalburgi, established in the year 1903. Poojya Doddappa Appa came as a saviour for the people of this backward region of Kalaburgi district, which was suffering the undue double yoke of the Nizam of Hyderabad and the Britishers. It was his firm belief that no creature should be a victim of slavery because he perceived that spirit resides in all creatures. This spiritual attitude and outlook of Poojya Doddappa Appa paved the way for the freedom movement. Back in 1918 when the First World War was still going on and when Osmania University was established in the Nizam’s State, Poojya Doddappa Appa established Sharanabasaveshwar Public Library in Kalaburgi region to create awareness and awaken the people of this region. He aimed to arouse the spirit of nationalism, patriotic feelings and intense desire for freedom among the people.

Poojya Doddappa Appa strongly felt that creating awareness among the women folk is as essential as that of the men folk. Poojya Doddappa Appa opened the First Girls School that too in Kannada Medium in the year 1934. Poojya Doddappa Appa believed that spiritual attainment is the basis of independence. Therefore, he never failed to perform the ‘TrikalaIstalinga Pooja’ and the ‘Guru Jangama Dasoha’, even during the most difficult times. Poojya Doddappa Appa’s uniqueness lies in strong sense of Swadeshi consciousness. MahatamaGandhiji discarded foreign clothes and used only Swadeshi clothes and thus awakened in the whole of the nation, the spirit of patriotism and national independence. Similarly Poojya Doddappa Appa discarded the weekly holiday on Monday, which was given to the government servants on Sunday by the Britishand also Friday, which was given by the Nizam. He declared Monday as a weekly holiday for all the educational institutions because Monday was regarded as the auspicious day and the real Indian folks’ holiday, for the farmers constitute 80% of the population. Even this irked the Nizam. But, through such resolve, Poojya Doddappa Appa inculcated patriotism and the importance of independence in the people.