There’s more to Bangalore than just Vidhana Soudha, High Court, Cubbon Park and Lalbagh. Other equally historical heritage structures, particularly in the spiritual domain dot Bangalore, but are unfortunately not on the Bangalore tourism circuit, for foreign nationals and Northern India.
No information on these structures goes out widely to visitors in any form. There is no branding and marketing, no attempt to build informative stories around them, nothing to show that officials are interested in excavating the deeper history and cultural spread of Bangalore.
Let’s take the Jumma Masjid on Commercial Street. According to Yasir Mohammed, businessman in the area, the Street’s Jumma Masjid is perhaps the oldest in the City. “The mosque is situated between two temples. It is a fine example of secularism.
Immediate locals may know of it, but I am unsure if people from distant areas of Bangalore do, let alone foreign citizens. The mosque needs to be listed in the tourist brochures of the department of tourism, and information needs to be circulated among private travel and tourist companies and be made a major heritage stop in the City.
It would do good if Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) were to take up its revival.” The Masjid, built between 1740 and 1840, has an Arabic touch to it.
The 17th century Kaadu Malleshwara temple dedicated to Lord Shiva is yet another landmark in the City. Again, while locals throng the temple, visitors from abroad haven’t been adequately informed about its historical value and the circumstances under which it was built.
According to Poornima S, homemaker from Malleswaram, the temple sees very huge crowds on two occasions. “The mahashivarathri and Karthika month are auspicious occasions. People from all over the State come to the temple. On regular days too, people from outside visit the temple. But, I have not seen too many foreign nationals nor people from northern India. I am unsure whether they have been informed about the temple.”
The Dodda Ganapathi temple and Dodda Basavanna temple on Bull Temple Road need more attention to figure in the must-see tourist circuit of the City. M Venkatesh, Secretary of the Basavanagudi Traders’ Association, says the two temples are of historical value.
“The tourist operators bring tourists to the Dodda Ganapathi temple, but do not always take them up the steps to see Dodda Basavanna temple nearby. The operators have to be told to ensure visits to both shrines. We must do something to enhance their popularity among people from North and tourists from abroad. It is very popular among locals.
But to give it a lift, we should have better branding and aesthetic presentation of the two temples. Gavi Gangadhareshwara temple, Gavipuram, is fairly well known in the tourist circles. Whenever foreigners come, the temple is included in the itinerary. All these three temples and many others in the area can form a very good temple tourism circuit in Basavanagudi.”
Devotees come in the middle of January every year on Sankranti Day to this cave temple. This is a special day when sunrays fall on the Shivalinga for one hour as it passes between the horns of the Nandi. The Sun illuminates Shivalinga two times a year – from January 13 to 16 late afternoons and from November 26 to December 2.
Someshwara temple in Ulsoor sees a similar phenomenon. Shiva S, a long-time trader near the temple, says there is heavy rush during Sankranti and Shivaratri.
“I have occasionally seen a few foreigners coming to the temple, but there is no heavy rush. Some persons who take extra interest and are curious about not so well known structures, make it to the temple. But the general stream of tourists needs to go up.” There are stories of how a king who was sleeping near the temple got a dream of Lord Shiva and went on to build the temple.
Then there are a few other temples that can be brought into the tourist fold – Karanji Anjaneya in Basavanagudi, Pralayakalada Veerabhadra, Kalabhairava in Gavipura Guttahalli, Dharmaraya temple, Ranganathaswamy temple, Balepete, Kote Venkataramana temple (1690) adjoining Tipu Sultan’s Palace, Kashi Vishveshwara temple (1840) in Balepete and Gali Anjaneya temple on Mysore Road, said to have been established in 1425 by Vyasaraja.
Apart from Hindu shrines, other interesting shrines to visit in Bangalore are the Parsi temple, Tawakkal Mastan Dargah, St Mary’s Basilica and the Mahavira Digambara Jain Temple.
Bangalore’s multi-religious and cosmopolitan character is best reflected in its many temples, mosques, churches, Gurdwaras like the one at Ulsoor which was built in 1946, Buddhist Viharas, or the Queen’s Road Parsi fire temple. Clearly, there’s lot to show people from all over India and the world that Bangalore has serious archaeological and spiritual spaces to explore.
Bangalore has been branded and marketed as a technology destination for over 25 years.
There is a need to rebrand the City also as a cultural-heritage space. Many cities in the world flash a technology-culture facade. Why can’t Bangalore?
source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> Intense City – Bangalore / by Prashanth G N / DHNS – March 22nd, 2014
Krumbiegal was a landscape designer who designed the Brindavan Gardens, Lal Bagh, Chamundi Gymkhana…
by S.N. Venkatnag Sobers
We have come across many incidents in the past where foreigners have visited India in search of their roots or to know more about their relatives who lived in India for a long time. Many of them have also visited India for research work, especially from England, as ours was a British Colony.
Mysore city recently had one such visitor from Dresden, Germany, who had come here to study the works done by Gustav Hermann Krumbiegal, a German Botanist and garden designer, who is known for his works at the Lal Bagh Botanical Gardens, Bangalore and for the planning of the avenues of Bangalore.
Dr. Anja Eppert, Garden Superintendent, Dresden, was in Mysore to study the works of Krumbiegal. She visited Brindavan Gardens, Chamundi Gymkhana inside Mysore Race Club premises, Mysore Palace, Fernhills Palace, Ooty, which are said to be designed by Krumbiegal during his stay in Mysore.
Her visit has gained prominence as the German Authorities in Dresden have decided to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Krumbiegal and also introduce him to Germans as majority of them do not know much about him.
Speaking to Star of Mysore, Dr. Anja said that some of the gardens designed by Krumbiegal have not been well-maintained. “In case of buildings, it is a different as they get older and sometimes have to be demolished and reconstructed. But, in case of gardens they have to be maintained well throughout. Gardens tell us stories about the kind of people who lived at the time when it was created. It is very important to tell people about the historical relevance of the parks,” she opined.
Dr. Anja added that the German authorities had taken up the research works of Krumbiegal and had sent her on a visit Mysore, Bangalore and Ooty. She mentioned that the German Counselor General in Bangalore informed the authorities about the works done by Krumbiegal during his stay here and that is when they decided to organise an exhibition on Krumbiegal works.
The exhibition will be held next year at Pillinitz Castle and Park in Germany. The German authorities have also planned to publish a book on Krumbiegal. Dr. Anja said that a similar exhibition is also being planned in Bangalore as it would be a good opportunity to exchange garden culture among the two countries.
During her visit to Mysore and Bangalore, Dr. Anja was accompanied by Prasanna Kumar, Retd. Deputy Director of Horticulture, who was in-charge of gardens in Mysore, especially at Lalitha Mahal and had knowledge on Krumbiegal’s works.
For those who do not know about Krumbiegal, he was born in Lohmen near Dresden, and his early studies were in Wilsdruff and Dresden after which he trained in horticulture. In 1884, he worked in Schwerin and from 1885 to 1887 he worked as a landscape gardener in Hamburg. In 1888, he moved to England, designing flower beds at the Hyde Park and became a staff at the Royal Botanical Gardens in Kew. He then took up a position in 1893 with the Princely State of Baroda as Curator of the botanical gardens there. He also worked with the Government Botanical Gardens at Ootacamund and was responsible for redesigning the architecture. In 1908, he was requested by Krishnaraja Wadiyar, the then Mysore ruler, to serve him and he succeeded John Cameron at the Lal Bagh Gardens as an economic botanist and superintendent.
Krumbiegal introduced numerous plants and was involved in designing the landscape for Brindavan Gardens in KRS. He was also actively involved with the Mysore Horticultural Society that was started in 1912. He obtained seeds from other countries and sent collections in return to Kew and USA. These included Indian specialties such as bamboo rice, varieties of other rice, mango and others.
Outside his key work area, he was often involved in architectural design. The Dewan of Mysore appointed him as an architectural consultant despite protests from the British Resident in Mysore. During the Second World War, Germans in India were declared as enemies and Krumbiegal was along with other Germans kept in an internment camp in Bangalore.
Krumbiegal was responsible for the introduction of many ornamental plants and flowering trees. He was also involved in the choice of avenue trees for Bangalore. The road adjoining Lal Bagh is named after him as ‘Krumbiegal Road’.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Feature Articles / March 21st, 2014
Embark on an adventure with Pheroze Kharegat as he takes us to a place steeped in history and conspiracy. Bara Kaman in Bijapur mesmerises and captivates anyone who looks upon it…
With an overwhelming number of Mughal monuments in India, we tend to forget that, down South, in Bijapur,Karnataka has a great treasure house of Islamic architecture. Peep into the annals of history and you will be intrigued to know how this obscure little town in northern Karnataka attracted countless dynasties in its brief thousand years of existence.
Dynasty rules
The mighty Chalukyas led the pack, followed by the Khiljis, the Bahamanis and the Adil Shahis. Bijapur’s ancestry rattles off the veritable who’s who of medieval India. They came here to rule and left their imprints in stone – the Gol Gumbaz unparalleled anywhere in the world, the sombre mausoleums and the lavish mahals.
Of all these, the most mystifying in the unfinished edifice is known as the Bara Kaman, or twelve arches. Arches that are silently crumbling, yet graceful. The unfinished tomb of Ali Adil Shah lies a short distance to the north of the citadel and the Gagan Mahal. The great high basement upon which the building stands is 215 feet square.
The most peculiar characteristic of the building are its arches. They are purely Gothic in outline, being struck from two centres with the curves continued up to the crown. On a raised platform, in the inner enclosure is the tomb of Ali Adil Shah. Standing at a dead end of a lane, located a few km from the present day Bijapur town, the Bara Kaman — as this mausoleum was called, stands in ruins.
There are no domes or pillars; just towering stone walls that curve into arches, built to represent death and immortality, as they tried to reach out to each other. The original plan was to build an edifice of 12 arches arranged both horizontally and vertically around the tomb of the king and his queens. However, barely a couple of arches completed the picture, while the rest of them seemed to have been left undone.
This is the incomplete mausoleum of Ali Adil Shah, Sultan of Bijapur, who ruled from 1656 to 1686. This building is also called as Ali Roza. This is located near to the Bijapur main market.
Family politics
Built in 1672 A D, it was the burial place of Ali Adil Shah II and his queens and members of royalty. But the planning of such a grand monument spelt death for the prince.
Ali Adil Shah was murdered by his father Ibrahim Adil Shah to prevent him from completing Bara kaman. Ibrahim Adil Shah feared that Bara kaman would lessen the popularity of Gol Gumbaz that he had gotten constructed. Bara Kaman has the tombs of Ali Adil Shah, his wife Chand Bibi, his mistress and his daughters.
The architect Malik Sandal, initially raised solid walls in the form of concentric arches and once the entire wall was erected, the inner arches were toppled off and only the outermost arch was left intact. Also iron rings were used to hold the stones in place. They weren’t cemented together.
If the mausoleum had been completed, it would have definitely rivalled the Gol Gumbaz in Bijapur.
As a visitor enters the place, he is bound to be impressed by the huge symmetrical arches. The pillars are built of stone and stand tall. The architectural skill of those who designed and constructed this monument is noteworthy.
It is a fine example of Islamic architecture which is synonymous with grace, beauty and opulence. There is no roof over the structure, a clear indication that work had to be stopped due to unknown reasons.
Massive pillars, with large stones nicely held together, support the arches, which soar to the sky. The arches are interlinked giving a picture of continuity.
The tombs are simple with no decoration and a hemispherical smooth top. Two of the arches are located on a tiered high platform, at a distance from each other, and have an austere look.
A wall at the back of the monument has a small arched opening as a lookout. The entire monument is bereft of any embellishment.
The garden in front is well maintained and the Archaeological Survey of India is looking after the upkeep of the monument, though no entry fee is charged.
It was rather late in the evening, and the sun’s rays filtered through the towering arches, radiating a soft glow. The cenotaph just stood there throwing no clues as to why it was incomplete.
The only motive available in history is pride that came between the father and the son. They both tried to surpass each other in terms of massive mausoleums.
source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> Supplements> Spectrum / Maharaja Features / March 04th, 2014
Karnataka’s flora is in full bloom online, thanks to an internet database launched by the Centre for Ecological Sciences (CES), Indian Institute of Science (IISc), on Thursday.
The database enables researchers as well as laypersons to key in the name of any plant species to find out the regions to which it is endemic, the key identification features, habit and distribution locality, among others. At present, the database can be accessed only by IISc faculty. It will be open to all after two weeks.
“This is good news for researchers. They can get details of 5,216 plants with their origin in Karnataka,” K Shankar Rao, distinguished fellow of CES, said. The database is perhaps the first online herbarium to cover the entire flora of any state in the country. He hoped the portal will create awareness about Karnataka’s rich floral heritage.
The online herbarium will help in deciding whether any hydroelectric or other project can be undertaken in certain areas. “People can raise objections if any endangered species is damaged due to the project by checking our database for plants endemic to those areas,” he said.
Shankar, who retired as biochemistry professor from IISc nine years ago, has worked for eight years with 14 other faculty members of the institute to develop the database.
They are endangered
Hopea Ponga: Found in the Western Ghats, it is a lofty tree with simple leaves which are up to 23 cm long and 7.5 cm broad with a swollen petiole. The tree can grow up to 18 metres. It produces gall which is mistaken as fruit.
Prunus Ceylanica: This tree grows up to 20 metres and is found in the Western Ghats. The leaves have a blunt tip and the tree yields white flowers.
Pterocarpus Marsupium: Also known Indian Kino Tree, it is found in the Ghats and can grow up to 30 metres. In Karnataka, it is known as Kempu Honne. It is used in ayurvedic medicines and in producing insulin.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Bangalore> Namma Metro / TNN / January 31st, 2014
The presidents and vice-presidents of the City Municipal Councils (CMCs) of Shimoga, Tumkur and Bijapur, which have been upgraded as corporations, will don the role of mayor and deputy mayor and the members will become corporators.
The State government on Friday gazetted the notification upgrading three CMCs as corporations. The State Cabinet in September this year had given its nod for giving the three CMCs the status of corporations as their population has crossed the three-lakh mark as per the 2011 census.
The government is likely to grant Rs 100 crore each for the development of these corporations.
With the upgrading of the CMCs, the total number of corporations in the State will rise to 11. The others are: Bangalore, Mysore, Mangalore, Gulbarga, Hubli-Dharwad, Belgaum, Davangere and Bellary.
source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> State / Bangalore, DHNS – December 21st, 2013
A Helava community member with documents in his possession. / by Special Arrangement / The Hindu
Helavas have documents containing the genealogy of almost all families in 10 districts
They may look like members of yet another nomadic tribe moving from one place to the other. The big difference is that people in certain parts of the State look upon their arrival eagerly, as the bundles that they carry contain documented information dating back centuries.
Helavas, traditional archivists, have documents containing the genealogy of almost all families in every village and town in Belgaum, Dharwad, Bijapur, Bagalkot, Haveri, Gadag, Bellary, Uttara Kannada, Davangere and Chitradurga districts.
Their traditional occupation is to visit every household in different groups, read out the genealogy, and add on details of new members of the family.
Perhaps, it is the only community in India that has made archiving a source of livelihood. Families offer them money, gold and silver articles, and foodgrains in return. Their inherited skills of archiving can leave modern archivists awestruck.
K.S. Korishettar, a lawyer in the Karnataka High Court, said he got details of nearly 10 generations of his family from them. “The oldest details are in copper plates which appear to be reliable. The names of ancestors of three to four generations in the Helava records are accurate. They have legal sanctity and courts have termed them valid documents in some partition-related suits,” he said.
“Earlier, people would give donations in kind. But today, most of the families pay in cash. We earn enough for our subsistence,” Fakirappa of Hadagali village said. He said they have some ancient records written on copper plates and palm leaves.
Their lifestyle too has not changed over the years. During their tour, they stay in tents and use bullock carts to commute. Women are mainly engaged in household work.
The legend has it that the Helavas existed from the days of Basaveshwara. An extensive research of their documents may unearth several interesting facts.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> National> Karnataka / by N. Dinesh Nayak / Dharwad – December 13th, 2013
The city is arguably the best city to live in India. The first thing that comes to the mind when any Bangalorean thinks about the city is its conducive climate. The moderate temperature and the luscious and vast greenery make anyone to love this place. The fastest growing metropolitan city has always attracted tourists and immense talent from all over the country as well as across the globe.
A diverse city founded by Kempegowda it is the software hub of India due to the presence of large number of software companies and industries. Along with these highlights Bangalore has many tourist attractions. Starting from the Kengal Hanumanthiah built Vidhana Soudha to the Tippu palace, Lal Bagh, Cubbon Park, etc.
Another thing that makes Bangalore likeable is its variety of food. Irrespective of where you are from, you get all kinds of food here, be it Chinese, Rajasthani, Punjab etc.
The quality of education here is excellent with more than 25 engineering colleges which is very high. Bangalore is a vibrant and colourful city with fashion weeks, musicians, comedians and artists performing everyday. Bangalore also has a high number of public sectors and government organisations. These are only few of the reasons for anyone who is staying or has stayed in this beautiful city to fall in love with it.
Now coming to what I dislike or things I would want to see changed in Bangalore. First thing anybody would agree is the Bangalore traffic. The heavy traffic, the traffic jams and the accidents are a major drawback. Also, the nightlife here dies after 10. Bangalore being a metropolis should have a better deadline. There is also the garbage disposal problem. We see garbage thrown everywhere on the road. Another issue people face is the poor roads. While some roads like Nice road or the Malleswaram flyover are good, there are many roads which are filled with potholes; roads which are dug up and left unattended and constructions going on from eons causing inconvenience to the citizens. Bangalore also has a very high water scarcity problem which is hampering our daily lives.
Irrespective of these problems, being a Bangalorean since my birth, I love this place and for me without doubt it is the greatest city in the world and I believe that the present, past and future residents and tourists of Bangalore will agree with me.
(The writer is a resident of Yelahanka)
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Bangalore / by Sagar Kashyap – Bangalore / September 25th, 2013
Early on Sunday evening, the sky was clear and a soft wind blew across Ulsoor, lined by the lake on one side and expensive real estate on the other. There was an edge to the traffic racing towards the city’s downtown area, dodging pedestrians and potholes.
A young girl of perhaps 18 was at the front of the traffic on Gangadhar Chetty Road, close to the Thiruvalluvar statue. A pothole that had matured into a crater with water from early morning showers flooding the area, lay ominously across the road.
The girl and her two-wheeler, followed closely by an autorickshaw, were stalled by the condition of the surface. The slightly-built teenager, who was trying to manoeuvre her bike through the slush, lost her balance and tumbled into the muck.
The auto driver and the passengers in his vehicle sat unmoving. Behind them, traffic started piling up. A young man on a bike suddenly raced through the crowd and tossed his vehicle to the side. He didn’t even pause to take off his helmet before pulling the girl out of the slush and depositing her on the footpath. He then returned to move her vehicle.
For a while, people just watched, stunned by the little drama playing out before them. I realized the girl might need medical attention and got out of my car, leaving it in the middle of the road. By then, a biggish crowd had gathered around.
It took me a couple of minutes to get back to my vehicle which was clearly blocking the traffic. But no one objected. No one honked. There was a considerable pile-up and people in the vehicles in the rear probably didn’t even know what was happening up in front, but nobody made a sound. Everyone waited patiently. At a time when rapes and crimes against women headline newspapers every day, it was an especially sweet moment. The rider who cared, the crowd that paused.
As Metallica’s James Hetfield’s told the city’s rapt audience not so long ago, “Bangalore, you’re beautiful.”
It might have been the time of day, that day of the week, when the mood relaxed. It might have been the most patient were in the pile-up. Or maybe, just maybe, the city is regaining some of its lost temperament. Fair-weathered, pot-holed Bangalore.
source: http://www.articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Bangalore> Auto Driver / by Prajwal Hegde, TNN / September 04th, 2013
For the first time in the entire country, Karnataka has emerged as the path-breaker by offering the maximum number of 375 services under the Sakala scheme of providing guaranteed time-bound delivery of services to the citizens.
The State Government has included another 110 services under the Karnataka Sakala Services Act 2011 on August 16 taking up the total number of services to a record 375, which is the highest in the country.
Karnataka’s Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister T B Jayachandra on Thursday released the progress report of the scheme for the month of July and said 69 services have been made available online.
The minister, however, clarified that the addition of the 110 services could not be announced in view of the election model code of conduct in operation in as many as 9 districts on account of the by-elections to Lok Sabha and Legislative Council.
Important services such as driving learning license, driving license, vehicle registration, duplicate copy of certification of registration, recounting of marks, revaluation of answer scripts, registration of new schools and land registration documents have been made available under the Sakala online.
Department-wise online services that are made available are:
Transport – 5, department of personnel and administrative reforms – 21, primary education and commercial department – 10 each, commerce and industry – 2, Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike – 6, Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board – 3, Bangalore Development Authority – 4, Karnataka Housing Board – 3 and Drugs Control Department – 5.
As many as 110 services of various departments such as public libraries, collegiate education, technical education, university constituent colleges, university post-graduate section, university examination section, university finance section, university academic section, exercise department, Karnataka State Warehousing Corporation, sericulture have been added on August 16.
The department has identified 1800 services to be provided under the scheme to ensure transparency in the delivery of services to the pubic, he said disclosing that the government proposed to add more services in the coming days.
Jayachandra said show-cause notices have been issued against 449 officials who defaulted on providing services within the stipulated time for more than seven times.
A highest number of employees of the Revenue Department (272) followed by Inspector General of Registration (37), Home (26) and Rural Development and Panchayat Raj (11) have failed to provide services in time on than seven occasions, he said.
Chamarajanagar 1st , Udupi 28th
Chamarajanagar stands first while Bidar ranked last among the districts as far as implementation of Sakala scheme, which ensures time-bound service to the public under the Karnataka Sakala Services Act 2011.
The Department of Personnel and Administration Reforms (DPAR) published a report of July 2013 on all districts taking into account their performance.
Ranking is given to districts based on the number of applications received and disposal. While weightage is 70 per cent for number of applications received per lakh population, 30 per cent for disposal.
Jayachandra said 30 districts received 33.15 lakh applications and disposed off 32.45 lakh (98.43 per cent) in July. Delayed disposal for the month stood at 1.53 per cent.
Chamarajanagar continued to remain on the top of the table for the second consecutive month while Mandya and Uttara Kannada ranked second and third respectively while Udupi district was ranked 28.
Bidar secured 30th rank, Belgaum – 29th and Udupi – 28th. Total number of applications received by Chamarajanagar district was 73,052, Mandya – 1,34,782, Uttara Kananda – 94,938, Bidar – 82,066, Belgaum – 210249 and Udupi – 49,649. The Minister said a competitive environment has been created among districts in the provision of services to the public.
Deputy Commissioners of top performing districts would be given certificates appreciating timely delivery of services, the minister said.
Sakala Mission Director Shalini Rajneesh was present.
source: http://www.daijiworld.com / DaijiWorld.com / Home> Top Stories / by DaijiWorld Special Correspondent / DaijiWorld Media Network – Bangalore / August 30th, 2013
Replica of theDandi March statue at Freedom Fighters park in city.
The city of the Mysore is usually identified for its tradition, culture and aesthetics. Thousands of tourists from across the globe visit Mysore every day to view various tourist spots across the city. While the Government has been chalking out plans to improve city’s tourism, little is done to promote the city’s role in the freedom struggle and freedom fighters who laid their lives. Tyagis such as Thagadur Ramachandra Rao, M.N. Jois, Yashodamma Dasappa, Ramaswamy and many more fought for the freedom. Mysore, which was a Princely State then, witnessed ‘Mysore Chalo’ agitation against the rulers, for disagreeing to join the Union of India. Prior to Mysore Chalo, freedom fighters took active part in the ‘Quit India Movement.’
This Weekend’s Star Supplement tries to give an insight into the freedom struggle in Mysore.
Freedom Struggle and Mysore
Mysore :
As India celebrates its 67th Independence Day on August 15, 2013, people in Mysore also remember the contributions of freedom fighters from Mysore, who braved their hearts to fight for Independence and also during ‘Mysore Chalo,’ the post-independence struggle to bring the Princely State of Mysore under the Union of India.
At a time when the struggle for independence had begun, Mysore was also influenced by the national awakening which was being evidenced by newspapers such as The Hindu, The New India, Maratha and some of the local newspapers such as Karnataka Prakashika, Suryodaya Prakashika and Vrittanta Chittamani.
There was definite activity in the direction of national awakening as was evidenced during the I World War when Thagadur Ramachandra Rao started his movement against the foul criticism of the Hindu Society by the Christian Missionaries and also started selling pictures of Jalianwallah Bagh tragedy at his shop in Mysore in 1919.
When Bal Gangadhar Tilak passed away on August 1, 1920, there was a huge procession of mourners and shops in Mysore were closed. Even the district court was forced to shut. The procession was led by the students of Maharaja’s College followed by the boys of Marimallappa High School and other schools and among the leaders were Devudu Narasimha Shastry, a college student then, M. Venkatakrishnaiah, who was the Principal of Marimallappa High School, who were responsible for bringing in leaders such as Thagadur Ramachandra Rao, M.N. Jois, Palahalli Sitaramaiayya and Agaram Rangayya to the national cause.
When KPCC was formed in the Nagpur Congress convention, its branches were opened all over Karnataka in 1921 and M. Venkatakrishnaiah was the first President of Mysore District Congress Committee. In the mofussil areas, Visveswara Gowda of Nanjangud, T. S. Subbanna of Thagadur, T. Rama Rao, Siddhoji Rao and T.P. Boraiah at T.Narasipur, advocate M.A. Srinivas Iyengar and G. Krishna Murthy of Hunsur and Ganapathi Shastry of Saligrama were some of the early leaders of Congress during 1920s and early 1930s who spearheaded the freedom movement.
The Congress in this part of the region was funded by philanthropists like Sahukar D. Banumaiah, P.N. Sangappa and hotelier Badri Prasad.
By 1938, the struggle for independence intensified after the Shivapura Congress was held. Many leaders were imprisoned after the Shivapura Satyagraha and Dwaja Satyagraha in Mysore region. Freedom fighters from Chamarajanagar and K.R. Nagar actively participated in the freedom struggle which resulted in about 6000 people being sent to jails across Karnataka.
Speaking to Star of Mysore, Mysore District Freedom Fighters Association President D.S. Jagadish said that at the time of Quit India Movement people involved in freedom struggle laid a siege on the post offices, damaged the railway tracks and cut off the telephone lines in protest. The protest intensified after news about Mahatma Gandhi’s arrest was announced.
Majority of the planning regarding the freedom struggle was being done at Subbarayana Kere, which is located opposite Anathalaya on Narayana Shastri Road in city.
Mysore also witnessed the visit of Mahatma Gandhi during the freedom struggle on August 19, 1927 to propagate the cause of khadi following which a khadi production unit was started at Badanawal in Nanjangud Taluk.
Later, at the time of the Simon Commission visit to India, Thagadur Ramachandra Rao published a booklet ‘Simon Commissionnige Dhikkara’ (Down, Down Simon Commission) and addressed a public meeting in Mysore. He was sent to 15 days imprisonment and thus became the first political prisoner in Mysore State (1928).
The Tricolour was hoisted by M.N. Jois and L.V. Rajagopal on January 26, 1930 at Mysore as per the call of the All India Congress Committee. When the Civil Disobedience movement was launched in the British territories, two batches of volunteers — one led by Siddhanath Pant and another led by G.R. Swamy — went to Bombay-Karnataka area and returned after the signing of Gandhi-Irvine Pact in 1931.
Mysore also witnessed the commencement of Diamonds’ League, a nationalist youth organisation started by B. Srinivas Murthy and Krishnamurthy Padaki with the help of A.N. Suryanarayan Rao at Chamundipuram. The organisation was started to mobilise youths for the national movement. It also organised an exhibition of Swadeshi goods in 1932 at Chamundipuram.
Again, a large number of youths went to Bombay in 1932 and underwent imprisonment. Among them were M.N. Jois, his wife Subbamma Jois, Suryanarayan Pandit, N.D. Srirangachar and T.S. Subbanna. Many faced social boycott on return and M.N. Jois and his wife were even refused entry into their house.
Thagadur Ramachandra Rao organised temple entry programme for untouchables at Nanjangud and also founded a Harijan hostel in Thagadur in 1934. Gandhiji visited Mysore to advocate the eradication of untouchability and raised contributions for Harijan fund. After this, Thagadur Ramachandra Rao and his colleagues like M.N. Jois had to face lot of humiliation and insults when they went to work among the villagers. They were denied food and shelter even by the hostels and were greeted by pelting of stones, footwear and cowdung.
In later years, student leaders like Ramachandra Jois, H.S. Sadashivaiah and T.S. Subbanna conducted nationalist programmes at Maharaja’s College including flag hoisting in 1937, 1938 and 1939. To curb the nationalist activities among students, an order was passed in June 1938 that students failing in annual examination of the high school classes should not be allowed to attend classes for a second year. This resulted in Congress leaders like M.N. Jois taking initiative to start the Mahajan High School for victimised students in 1938.
Student strike continued even after the students spread themselves in groups to mofussil areas. Eight student leaders including H.Y. Sharada Prasad and Abdul Gafoor were arrested and 26 elder detainees from Mysore Jail were shifted to Bangalore Central Jail with a view to keep the students in ‘isolation’ in Mysore Jail. Despite all efforts by the Government to stop the students from striking, it continued. But, the death of a student, Shankarappa, in Mysore jail due to lathi charge on October 29, 1942, created panic among both the jail inmates and their parents. A student meeting at the Town Hall on November 23, 1942 which was chaired by Bhupalan Vasudeva Murthy, was attended by more than 1000 students who passed a resolution to withdraw the strike and return to classes and engage themselves in national and constructive work.
This was followed by the release of H.Y. Sharada Prasad and other convicted leaders on December 3, 1942. Even after the schools and colleges reopened, incidents of explosions were reported from Maharaja College Library on December 9, 1942. M.V. Krishnappa, one of the leaders, who was underground, offered satyagraha and courted arrested in January, 1943. The 11- week student struggle in Mysore went on to become one of the unique factors in Karnataka’s history of Quit India Movement.
Even today, freedom fighters in Mysore observe Quit India Movement Day. The District Freedom Fighters Association organises special function on August 9 every year and remembers those who sacrificed their lives during independence struggle.
Mysore Chalo
Even after India achieved independence from the British Rule on August 15, 1947, the celebrations in Mysore were subdued due to the resistance from the administrators of the Princely State. The then ruler Jayachamaraja Wadiyar refused to establish Responsible Government. Even the Indian Tricolour was not allowed to be hoisted. This prompted for yet another struggle called as ‘Mysore Chalo’, the last phase of freedom struggle. Even when the nationalists hoisted the flag at Subbarayana Kere, the Police intervened and removed the flag on September 3.
The Congress gave a call to volunteers from all parts of the then Mysore State to organise jathas to officially announce the commencement of ‘Mysore Chalo’ on September 4, 1947. Everyone including the students, workers, railway employees from all parts of the State rushed towards Mysore to take out rallies against the rulers of Mysore. Several liquor shops were attacked, taluk offices gheraoed, telegraphic wires delinked and railway lines removed.
At the time of intense protest, one high school student, Ramaswamy, died in Mysore when the Police opened fire at a procession at the Circle in the junction of JLB Road and Chamaraja Double Road, which has been appropriately named after him. A boy called Chandrashekar managed to hoist the National Flag on the Palace. As the jails were full, the arrested were taken in vehicles to be let off in far off places.
Later, Maharaja Jayachamaraja Wadiyar climbed down by accepting the demands on September 24, 1947 which was announced by K.C. Reddy at Subbarayana Kere. Following this, a responsible K.C. Reddy was sworn-in as CM on September 27.
The city also observes the ‘Mysore Chalo’ anniversary every year at the Freedom Fighters Park. People who participated in the ‘Mysore Chalo’ movement assemble at the park and pay respects to those who lost their lives in the struggle. It is said that around 69 people died and about 229 were injured during the struggle. [Source: Karnataka State Gazetteer]
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Feature Articles / August 10th, 2013
