Once a freedom fighter, always a fighter for freedoms. So what he happens to be somewhat advanced in years?

H.S. Doreswamy, who was born before Mahatma Gandhi launched his non-cooperation movement, could not sit quiet even after police in Karnataka rejected his aplication seeking permission for a five-day protest against a host of issues, including the new citizenship matrix.

When the police justified their decision saying permission had already been granted to another group, Doreswamy, who would turn 102 in April, had only one option. To proceed with his plans.

On Thursday, he reached the Town Hall in Bangalore, a bit stooped but as determined as ever when he had braved police batons during the freedom struggle, and sat down on a chair to launch the protest.

If the police arrested him for his defiance, so be it, he said.

“The DCP (deputy commissioner of police) had verbally permitted us to go ahead with this dharna (sit-it). Despite that the police refused to grant permission,” Doreswamy told The Telegraph from the Town Hall steps where he spent the day protesting against the citizenship matrix, rising instances of hate crime, the farm crisis and clampdown on civil rights, among other issues.

A local police officer, inspector Tanveer Ahmed, said the protest did not have permission but had been allowed as a “courtesy”.

He said another group of protesters against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act had been allowed the Town Hall space from 3pm.

“It’s people’s right to protest. But we ask them to get police permission to ensure adequate protection. Although this protest doesn’t have permission, we are allowing it as a matter of courtesy,” the officer added.

Doreswamy, a hugely respected figure who has been a regular speaker at protests against the citizenship law, said he had applied for police permission for the protest under the aegis of the Citizens Rights Action Committee.

“The police dodged (giving a reply) for three days but finally gave me oral permission at 1pm yesterday (Wednesday). So I called my compatriots and asked them to make all the arrangements. But late in the evening they sent the notice rejecting my application,” he said.

He protested the manner in which the police detained eight boys who had come to pitch a tent for the sit-in.

“Around 9.30am eight boys came here with their materials. But the police stopped them from doing their work. If they want to take someone, let them arrest me,” said Doreswamy, who was born in 1918.

That would be a little over a couple of years before Mahatma Gandhi would launch his non-cooperation movement and the same year World War I had ended. In fact, the Great War was still going on when Doreswamy was born.

On Thursday, the centenarian appeared determined to press ahead with his protest for four more days. “If they (the police) can’t give me permission to protest here (Town Hall), let them give any other place. I am ready to go,” he said.

Kavitha Reddy, one of the organisers of the protest, said she received a call from the police on Wednesday afternoon seeking details about the number of participants.

“I told them anyone could come since it is a non-political event,” Reddy said, adding she was there in her personal capacity although she happens to be a spokesperson for the Congress.

The police later informed Doreswamy that another group had been given permission for a protest at the same spot.

“But my point is, if they had already given permission to another group, why didn’t they tell me when they spoke to me at 12.30pm yesterday (Wednesday)?” he said.

A small police deployment headed by inspector Ahmed kept watch on the event attended by a couple of hundred people, mostly activists from social organisations.

“Our duty is to ensure nothing untoward happens,” the officer said. “So we don’t have any issues in giving permission to any group or individual, provided they get police permission.”