The Danish Architect Mogens Thiesen will be in Mysuru from Dec. 22 to Dec. 30. Mogens Thiesen was working for the Danish Government during The Danish Mysore Project in the early sixties. He was the Architect at the project between the Indian Government and the Danish Government.
Mogens Thiesen will be visiting The Danish Mysore Project and his former staff living in Mysore.
Mogens Thiesen will also celebrate his 80th birthday together with his old friends in Mysore and his oldest son, daughter-in-law and four grand-children.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News / Monday , December 22nd, 2014
THE PIONEER: There were four Kempe Gowdas and it was the first who founded Bangalore. — FILE PHOTO: SAMPATH KUMAR G.P.
This year even as we’re celebrating the 500th birth anniversary of Kempe Gowda I, there is some confusion among the people over which Kempe Gowda founded our city, considering four Kempe Gowda ruled over the region for over two centuries.
Historians are unanimous that it was Kempe Gowda I (1513-1569) who is the architect of Bangalore. His ancestors immigrated from Kanchipuram after falling out with the ruler there and settled on the outskirts of what was later to be Bangalore.
Yelahanka beginnings
Kempe Gowda I, who was in charge of Yelahanka, built a mud fort in 1537 and with the help of the king Achchutaraya of the Vijayanagar Empire, built the little towns of Balepet, Cottonpet and Chickpet inside the fort. Today, these areas are thriving commercial market places.
According to historians, it was Kempe Gowda I who annexed Ulsoor and Hesaraghatta and erected the Ulsoor Gate, Sondekoppa gate, Yelahanka gate and Anekal gate.
King Achchutaraya granted him the neighbouring villages of Begur, Jigani, Varthur, Kengeri, Banavara and Kumbalgod, besides many hamlets. Kempe Gowda built the cave temple of Gavi Gangadhareshwara at Gavipuram, the Bull Temple in Basavanagudi, Kempambudhi tank and Dharmambudhi tank.
The four towers
He famously built four towers near the present Ulsoor lake, Kempambudhi lake, Lalbagh and Mekhri circle to mark the outmost boundaries of Bangalore. Though the city has grown far beyond these boundaries, the towers still fascinate people.
Kempe Gowda I’s successor Kempe Gowda II built the Ulsoor lake, Sampangi tank, Ranganatha Temple of Balepet and augmented the Someshwara Temple of Ulsoor. He built colonies such as Tigalarpet and Kumbarpet to ensure their welfare.
The capitals
According to S.K. Aruni, Chairperson, Indian Council for Historical Research (ICHR), it was Kempe Gowda I, who shifted the capital from Yelahanka to Bangalore; Kempe Gowda II shifted it from Bangalore to Magadi.
Four Kempe Gowdas have ruled this region. While first three chieftains are Kempe Gowda I, II and III, the fourth was Kempa Nanje Gowda.
Chiranjeev Singh, retired IAS officer and member of the consultative committee for the Kempe Gowda Museum, also backs Kempe Gowda I as the architect of Bangalore: he and his team did in-depth research before setting up the Kempe Gowda museum.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> National> Karnataka / by Muralidhara Khajane / Bangalore – May 10th, 2011
Bangalore is 477 years old or at least the record books say so. From the times of Kempegowda to its Silicon Valley days, this city has stood witness to several stories, some told, some untold and many forgotten.
In search of this treasure trove of tales, a group of architects and a few likeminded others started some years ago Bygone Bangalore, a group on a social networking site. Their objective is to revive and relieve those forgotten stories. What started as page for sharing old photographs is now turning out to be among the few groups mirroring the city’s heritage.
“Did you know Chhatrapati Shivaji got married in a temple in Malleswaram?” asks Naresh Narasimhan, an architect who has been a part of Bygone Bangalore from its initial days. “In fact, his father owned a huge house in Chickpet. That’s the thing, the more you know about your city’s past, the more you love it,” he says.
From the outset, the group had its goals defined: to bring to the fore old and inspiring photographs of the Garden City, to prompt conversations about the place, especially on social networking forums and among the new migrant population.
“Unlike Chennai, New Delhi or Mumbai, our photo archive is minimal. We wanted members of this group to share old frames from their albums to increase this database. Thanks to the network, we have been able to exhibit some rare photos of Bangalore,” says Kiran Natarajan, another member of Bygone Bangalore.
As was conceived, these photographs soon led to conversations, even explorations. “Recently we found the tomb of Hyder Ali’s maternal uncle, Ibrahim, in Kumbarpet. Ibrahim was instrumental in making Hyder a king and this piece of history was lying unattended there,” says Mansoor Ali, an architect.
Members of the group also looked back to trace the history of Russell Market. And what they found was quite intriguing. Inside the present building, which is almost 133 years old, stands a 150-year-old clock tower. “Earlier it was called the New Market. It was an open ground where hawkers sold goods to British officers. The British later decided to a build a concrete structure there. It was one straight corridor with a clock tower on it.
The market was expanded again in 1921, but the original construction remains. In fact, some people are keen on getting that clock ticking once again,” says Kiran.
As the explorations continue, every trivia from the yesteryears is shared with those interested during heritage works organized by the group. “Recently, we organized a food walk in Basavanagudi. We wanted to explore the history of Basavanagudi through the traditional eateries in the area. This is one part of the city which retains its old-world charm,” says Ali.
The group also delves into issues of conversation. “There were 1,880 documented buildings in Bangalore, today there are less than 400 remaining. While some of these are with government, those owned by individuals are being demolished to accommodate real estate boom,” says Naresh.
Heritage isn’t just about concrete structures. It’s going back in time to Bangalore’s old way of life. If you want to experience it, step out and look for it. Even though places like Madiwala and HSR Layout have turned into concrete jungles, they too have a history. For instance, the temple of old Madiwala village still exists, and the temple fest still happens. What’s heartening is that more people are coming forward to participate in these celebrations that keep the Bangalore of yore alive
Kiran Natarajan | Bygone Bangalore member and what they know is shared to those interested, through heritage walks by the group.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Bengaluru> Namma Metro / by Arun Dev, TNN / May 05th, 2014
Project mooted after BBMP meets with city’s conservation architects
There is some hope on the horizon for the 18 heritage markets of the city that are on the hit list of BBMP which is proposing to bring them down and go in for reconstruction. Following an online campaign by INTACH, conservation architects and like-minded Bengalureans -Bengaluru Heritage Markets Campaign, a meeting was held in the BBMP on Tuesday to come out with a Plan B.
Markets standing committee chairman B R Nanjundappa and former Mayor B S Satyanarayana met Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) rep resentatives to discuss the issue. “Some of the markets are of no revenue value to us like Johnson Market where traders do not pay rents. But still, we are open to looking at a revitalisation plan and have asked the INTACH members to prepare a project for two markets. We will see the plan and de ide whether or not to take it forward,” Satyanarayana told Bangalore Mirror. As a pilot, rejuvenation plans for two markets will be readied by the conservation architects and if it is through, the rest of the structures will be n handled. INTACH’s campaign on Facebook is gaining traction (see box). The campaign is see c ing strong support with con servation architects putting up some history nuggets about the markets.
For instance about Murphy Town Market, a post reads: “So you love the stone facade of the Bible Society building on MG Road? This is its poor cousin.Poor only because it was neglected. This is also one of the 18 demolition candidates announced by the BBMP on Nov 26. What this needs is rejuvenation, not demolition! Make the BBMP retain heritage and culture aspects during such projects, especially in historic quarters of the city like this one! Murphy Town Market has its old world charm as reflected by the century old reading room in the market area. If BBMP has its way, all this would soon give way to a mall! Do we need a city stripped of all its community spaces and bazaars, old buildings razed and second generation shop keepers displaced? With no existing law to protect heritage buildings, it’s up to us to lend our collective voices to save them.” Publicising the Chikkamavalli Market in VV Puram, campaigners have posted: “Spanning a good block in the historic quarter of Chikkamavalli, just next door to Lalbagh and food street, adjacent to a Kempegowda Uyyale Udyanavana (Park).”
INTACH is also holding photo walks and the first one was held at Johnson Market last week.
The FB Campaign
INTACH’s campaign on Face book has so far got 750 sup porters. Bengalureans who are interested in heritage and traditional value of these buildings have fished out old photographs of the markets and have posted them. A Bengaluru Heritage Markets photo contest has also been announced with the tagline “Show your appreciation so that they never succumb to a sledgehammer.”
source: http://www.bangaloremirror.com / BangaloreMirror.com / Home> Bangalore> Civic / by Kushala S , Bangalore Mirror Bureau / December 24th, 2014
Time warp: In striking contrast to nearby Cambridge Layout, Murphy Town resists change and remains the settlement that was planned a century ago. Photo: Karan Ananth / The Hindu
Once called ‘a settlement too good for its inhabitants’, Murphy Town retains many of its century-old amenities
Sahayaraj, a 49-year-old driver, stays in a single bedroom house near Indiranagar, paying rent of Rs. 3 per month to the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP). So does 85-year-old Sivalingam, who works in the 125-year-old temple in his area, after having retired from the Army 25 years ago. Their neighbour pays only Rs. 0.50 a month for a slightly smaller house.
There are 37 such households living in what is perhaps the most unchanged legacy of the erstwhile Cantonment — Murphy Town. In striking contrast to the modern Cambridge Layout part of Jogupalya, Murphy Town is a settlement that stays true to its colonial past.
“My grandfather came here with the British army contingent from Vellore,” recalls Sivalingam. “Then, in 1913, Engineer Murphy, who went on to work for Binny Mills, designed this settlement for the Indian servants of the British army.”
LOADED WITH AMENITIES
Famously called ‘a settlement too good for its inhabitants’ by the colonial masters, Murphy Town retains many of its century-old amenities, which residents continue to use.
For starters, there is the Murphy Town market, well known for its meat sales all over east Bangalore. Shops assigned for chicken, mutton, fish and other meats are arranged around a square. A separated section sells beef.
35-year-old Mani has been cutting and selling meat here almost all his life. “I came here to work as a little boy. My parents were factory workers who got quarters in Murphy Town,” he narrates. Visitors to the market can also make use of the reading room set up by the State government in a stone building at the centre of the market.
“The State library is on the other side, occupying a whole floor of a corporation complex in Jogupalya,” says Kokilakshmi, the librarian. “But, many people, even the policemen who come to the grounds nearby, come here to read as the building is spacious, comfortable and well lit.”
OWNERSHIP ISSUES
“From what I remember, there is almost nothing that has changed in this area. Even the drainage system we use today was laid by the British,” Mani adds.
The rentals too stay at what was fixed by the British administration. “Once the country became independent, residents went to Murphy and demanded that they be given ownership of the houses,” Sahayaraj narrates. “Some 37 of them were left without papers and we are stuck, unable to do anything with our houses or sell them.”
But, does he want to sell his house and move out? His answer is an assertive no. “Nobody ever leaves this area. Some have built apartments on their sites and rented them out,” Sahayaraj says, pointing to a freshly painted three-storeyed building beside the row of single-storeyed houses with tiled roofs.
So, why the necessity to own a house when the rental is negligible? Karmegavannan, a political worker in the area, has a political explanation to the question. “They are still considered migrants when they go for services to government or other establishments. People treat them as if they are living on the charity of the government even though they are perhaps older residents of the city than many others,” he explains. “Getting legal documentation for their house strengthens their position.”
Karmegavannan has been living in Murphy Town since his childhood. He remembers visiting Jogupalya village to watch movies in the ‘tent theatre’ there, before Adarsha or Lido cinemas were built. He remembers a time when the Lakshmipuram graveyard was the only feature opposite Murphy Town, where CMH Road is now.
NON-STEREOTYPICAL
“People tend to stereotype the area as having a culture of only temple festivals such as ‘walking on fire’ ceremonies. But, it is actually a beautifully designed area. There are nine squares, with playgrounds in the middle, which are a riot of games in the evenings and on Sundays even today,” he says. “The roads are named after the Mudaliars who were prominent businessmen among the community here.”
“The schools used to be Tamil medium, now they have been converted to Kannada-medium schools,” he points out. One school bears the plaque ‘1913 Elementary School’. A crèche cum primary school also runs nearby. “People who go for construction or domestic work leave their children here,” says Kousalya, a teacher there.
The other school has a dilapidated stone building in the front named ‘the Evelyn Barton Welfare Centre’. Says the principal, M. Muniyappa, “This centre was closed down because the building was considered dangerous.” “Now, the appearance of the building from outside makes a bad impression on parents whose preference to put their children in the numerous English medium schools around gets reinforced.”
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Features> MetroPlus> Society / by Niranjana Ramesh / August 08th, 2012
Once, these saris used to be woven by master craftsmen in Mysore. In the 17th century, Maharao Kishore Singh, a Mughal general campaigning for emperor Aurangzeb, took back with him some of these master weavers to reproduce these handcrafted, light and colourful saris in his town of Kota in Rajasthan. Over time, these saris came to be known as Kota Doria saris and the town itself became famous for this craftsmanship.
Centuries later, the Chennai youngster, so used to the heavier silk saris of the south, is taking a liking to these light saris. Catering to this demand, Noor Mohammed, 32, whose family has more than a hundred years of history in weaving Doria sarees, is bringing his wares to the city for the fourth time.
Noor Mohammed, who hails from Kaithoon village in Kota, says, where the weavers from Mysore came to between 1684 and 1695.
“This is the sole occupation of our village and we have more than 3,000 loom pits.”
Kaithoon is the biggest producer of Kota Doria in Kota. Mohammed primarily exhibits in Hyderabad, Delhi and Mumbai.
“A few years ago, our villagers were mazdooris (labourers) for businessmen who sold our sarees. Then, every family had an income of only Rs 4,500 a month. So we approached chief minister Vasundhara Raje and the government suggested that we weave and sell our own sarees. That’s when we formed our own weaving society, which has more than a hundred women. Now, the entire family weaves together.”
Mohammed says the family incomes have doubled now.
Kota Doria (Doria means thread) is made of cotton and silk threads in different combinations in warp and weft (vertical and horizontal weaving). The weaving produces square check patterns on the fabric known as ‘khat’. The skilfully made khat becomes transparent which is a unique characteristic of this fabric. An authentic Kota Doria is soft to touch with very little starch. Since the fabric is woven by hand on traditional pit looms, the edges on the side are slightly uneven.
“Contrary to the taste of south Indians, there is a separate crowd- mostly youngsters who go in for Kota because of its lightness,” says city based textile businessman C Balamurugan. “It weighs not more than a dupatta and it is particularly comfortable during summer.”
The exhibition will begin on December 20th at The Palace, T-23A, 7th Avenue, GOCHS Colony, Besant Nagar.
For details call 9840012523.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Chennai / TNN / December 16th, 2014
Hiding from shutterbugs and strangers on mommy’s insistence, Afsan, 7, was still all over Jayamahal Palace, unable to control her curiosity. The little girl was checking out vintage wheels that have stood the test of time.
“This was made before dada (grandpa) was born,” her mother told Afsan pointing at a 1950 Vauxhall. Currently owned by Pradeep Konalkar, the car is older than many Bengalureans’ grandparents, and Pradeep is proud of it.
From the popular Mini 1000 to the Morris Cowley and the Sunbeam Talbot, the Southern India Vintage Automobile Exhibition of Bangalore Vintage Group (BGV) showcased around 150 cars and bikes, including our very own Ambassador. Among the bikes were the popular Lambretas, Javas, RD-350s and many more, but the Vijay Super was able to hold its own.
The show-stealers on this sunny Sunday morning were the noiseless legends that paved the way for the automobile era — the bicycles. K Narayan in his late 50s, who was among the early-bird cyclists at the venue, was quite a head-turner. Videographers ran towards him leaving some of their interviewees standing under the sun and a bunch of children followed him. The way he parked the vintage beauty, in slow motion, was reminiscent of a black-and-white film. As he twisted two knobs of his made-in-England cycle, allowing it to fold, the crowd went berserk.
“How old is this?” a car restorer asked, awestruck by the foldable technology. Modern-day cycles equipped with the feature cost a bomb. “It was made in 1939,” Narayan said in a matter-of-fact manner. Narayan’s brother rode in the Royal Winchester bicycle (1897), one of the oldest you would see in Bengaluru, and possibly India.
The exhibition drew visitors from Mysore, Pune, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, among others.
The Gentleman’s Bike
The Sunbeam Special (1914) has many firsts to its name. R D Srinivasan, owner of a Sunbeam bike in Bengaluru, said: “It doesn’t have a belt or a shaft. The chain is operated through a pool of oil. It was among the first bikes to have a bar control and gear system.” Among other attractions, the Sunbeam comes with a stand to hold tennis rackets, but Srinivasan, a former state-level hockey player uses it for his hockey stick. “…You cannot imagine the kind of technology used 100 years ago. It is just mind-blowing,” Srinivasan said, adding that it’s called The Gentleman’s Bike.
Helping ailing kids
Unlike previous editions of vintage exhibitions, Sunday’s event was aimed at helping children who need dialysis. Gautham Kalaburgi of NH4 Motorheads, one of the organizers, told TOI: “NH4 already supports two children. Dialysis for a single child costs Rs 12,000 a month and we thought that others can also contribute to the cause. We aren’t collecting money from public in the form of entry fee. The participating groups will pool in and contribute funds”.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Bengaluru / TNN / November 24th, 2014
Shree Vanamali Charitable Trust, Vijayanagar 2nd Stage, has organised a function on Dec. 8 at 5 pm at Vivekananda Hall of Mahajana College in Jayalakshmipuram here to present Vanamali Seva award and Dr. Mathoor Krishnamurti memorial award.
Prof. S. Settar, Historian and Senior Researcher will be conferred with Vanamali Seva award for the year 2014. He will receive a prize money of Rs. 25,000, an idol of Vanamali and a citation while Surendra Koulagi, Senior Sarvodaya worker, Melkote, will receive Dr. Mathoor Krishnamurti Memorial award for the year 2014.
Dr. H. S. Gopala Rao, Senior Researcher, Bengaluru and Dr. Boregowda Chikkamarali, Lecturer, Vijaya First Grade College, Pandavapura will speak about the awardees. Suttur Seer Shivarathri Deshikendra Swamiji will grace the occasion.
Profile: Prof. S. Settar was born in Hampasagara in 1935. He had his education in Mysuru, Dharwad and Cambridge Universities. He started his career as a Lecturer in Dharwad University. By his sheer hardwork and erudition, he soon became the Director of Indian Council of Historical Research and occupied the position of Director of Indira Gandhi National Art Centre of Southern Division. He has also served as the Chairman of Indian Council of Historical Research and at present he is serving as a Professor Emeritus in the Dr. S. Radhakrishnan Chair at the National Institute of Advanced Studies in Bengaluru. Prof. Settar has 27 works to his credit in the fields of Archaeology, Anthropology, Art, History, Philosophy and Epigraphy.
Surendra Koulagi: Surendra Koulagi was born in Dharwad district in 1934. From his childhood he was very much influenced by the freedom struggle. In 1954, he came in close contact of great Socialist leader Jayaprakash Narayan in Bombay and later Koulagi became his personal secretary.
After few days, Koulagi along with likeminded friends, started a voluntary organisation – ‘Janapada Seva Trust’ in Melkote. Through this Trust he undertook many constructive programmes on Gandhian lines. He worked extensively for the welfare of the physically impaired by polio and for the upliftment of women.
A writer, well versed in Kannada, English and Hindi, Koulagi played a key role in organising the 29th All India Sarvodaya Conference in 1990 at Melkote.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News / Friday , December 05th, 2014
Ramasamudra Police have recovered 636 ancient gold coins from labourers who dug the soak pit near the house belonging to one Sadiq at Haradanahalli village. The pit was being dug behind Sri Venugopalaswamy Temple. The Department of Archeology and Museums had recovered 93 gold coins on Monday.
Sadiq had also lodged a complaint with the Ramasamudra Police suspecting more coins could have been found by the labourers. Sub-Inspectors P.P. Somegowda and M. Mahadevaswamy, who were investigating the case, took Kumara, Suresh, Nanjunda and Sundar into custody for interrogation during which all the four accused confessed to have found more coins while they were digging the pit.
Ramasamudra Police recovered 106 gold coins from Kumara, 168 gold coins from Suresh, 183 gold coins from Sundar and 183 gold coins from Nanjunda. The Police said that the gold coins were of different shapes and sizes. The four were arrested and later released on bail. Department of Archeology and Museums officials who visited the spot had ordered to filter the mud using a sieve during which they found 560 gold coins. The Police have recovered a total of 797 ancient gold coins so far.
The officials said that ancient gold coins were around 200 years old and suspected it to be of Hyder Ali and Tanjavur Maratha period.
Chamarajanagar SP S. Rangaswamy, Additional SP M. Mutturaj, DySP Mahantesh E. Muppinamutt, Inspector M.M. Mahadevappa, Sub-Inspectors P.P. Somegowda and M. Mahadevaswamy and staff C.K. Mahesh, Shantharaju, N. Mallikarjun were a part of the investigation.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News / Thursday , December 04th, 2014
With thousands of Jain pilgrims chanting “Gomateshwara Maharaj Ki jai” and “Bhagavan Bahubali Ki Jai” to the accompaniment of chanting of vedic hymns by priests, the pilgrim town of Gommatagiri located off Mysuru-Hunsur Road today came alive during the 65th Mahamasthakabhisheka to the statue of Lord Gommateshwara.
During the Mahamasthakabhisheka, the grey granite statue of Gommateshwara went from white to red to golden yellow within minutes as it was anointed with turmeric, kumkum, sandal paste, milk, curds, vermilion honey and other fragrant fluids.
The rituals were held under the supervision of Sri Devendra Keerthi Bhattaraka Pattacharya of Hombuja Jain Mutt.
The granite statue, considered to be from the earlier Vijayanagar period located atop a 50 metre tall hillock, closely resembles its famous counterpart Shravanabelagola.
Though it is not clear who installed that statue, scholars opine that the influence of Jainism in the region was unmistakable and was perhaps one of the reasons for its installation at Gommatagiri.
S. Jithendra Kumar, President, Karnataka Jain Association, was the chief guest on the occasion.
At the function in which retired Registrar of Karnataka Lokayukta – M.J. Indra Kumar, Assistant Registrar of Lokayukta – A.C. Vidyadhar, Gommatagiri Kshetra Seva Samithi President Dr. Prabha Mandal, Hon. President G.A. Suresh Kumar, Secretary Dr. M.V. Shanthakumar were among those present
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News / Sunday , November 30th, 2014
