Category Archives: Historical Links, Pre-Independence

Centenarian folk artiste to inaugrate Dasara Cultural Fest

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Leaders, Records, All

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Mysore :

Renowned folk artiste and centenarian Enagi Balappa is likely to inaugurate the cultural programmes of Dasara-2013, at the Palace premises on Oct. 5 while well-known musician Pandit Jasraj is likely to present a musical concert at the Palace.

This was disclosed by Dasara Cultural Sub-Committee Chairman K.R. Mohan Kumar, at a press conference held at the Palace premises this afternoon, while adding that no programme has so far been finalised.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News / September 18th, 2013

Mysore Peta enjoys undiminishing honour

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links, Pre-Independence

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Keeping exalted company with ‘Mysore Pak’, ‘Villeydele’, ‘Mallige’ and Sandal enjoying intimate connect with Mysore city, among many more articles that appeal to persons endowed with refined tastes is ‘Mysore Peta’. The attractive headgear which was virtually the gold standard for identifying officials of the government in important posts and honours conferred to achievers in various pursuits during the era of kings and their Dewans is in demand even in the present era.

Mysore Peta generates a feeling of respect in the minds of everyone. The headgear made of high quality silk and laced with golden thread as well as colourful exterior was known to heighten not only honour but also status in society of the VIPs visiting the Palace on different occasions.

Kadaiah and members of his lineage are prominent among the traditional producers of Mysore Peta dating back to the era of Mysore’s rulers. Mysore Peta production in ‘Kadaiah’s New Textile Mart’ (Kadaiah Hosa Javali Angadi) on Sayyaji Rao Road dates back to 1886. The headgear was produced using raw materials brought from Benares (now ‘Varanasi’). The enterprise is being continued by Kadaiah’s fifth generation. Their products have adorned Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar, Yuvaraja Kanteerava Narasimharaja Wadiyar and Jayachamaraja Wadiyar and Dewans over the decades past. The decorative headgear is conspicuous by its presence in all auspicious events of Mysore Palace and also weddings as well as jaatras. Honouring scholars and littérateurs with Mysore Peta is common nowadays.

Yuvaraja’s headgear used to be produced using special quality silk brought from Varanasi and gold lace, apart from expensive beads and peacock feathers. Shawls, silk sarees with exclusive design and exquisite veils to gently cover the faces of princesses in the Palace also were produced by the Kadaiah team.

Although the headgear has acquired intimate connect with Mysore, traditionally its raw materials have been coming from Varanasi. The Peta is produced around a mould wrapped in canvas. The subsequent art work resulting in the final product, some with frills, is totally hand-crafted by skilled workers.

More than 15 differently designed petas are produced by the enterprise hosted by Mysore namely Bidadi Peta, Yuvaraja Peta, Shivaji Peta, Kodagu Peta, Visvesvaraya Peta, Durbar Peta, Tricolour Peta and headgears adorning characters on stage enacting epics. These different types of petas command a price tag in the range of Rs. 200 to Rs. 2,000. According to the shop owner, 200 petas are sold in a year and available at Kadaiah Hosa Javali Angadi. The enterprise won first prize in the public poll conducted by 93.5 Red FM Radio for its Mysore Peta.

Demand never down

Sales of Mysore Peta is witnessing good times. Demand for the crown continues to be like in the past. It is being supplied to honour achievers, for weddings and other events in Mysore Palace. The attractive headgear is produced by a team of five skilled workers without using any equipment. We are producing it in more than 15 designs.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Feature Articles / by H. S. Thejas / Nagesh, Shopowner / September 17th, 2013

Brahma of India

Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Leaders, Records, All, Science & Technology

Bharat Ratna Sir M. Visveswaraya’s birthday today (September 16th)

Bharat Rathna Sir Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya 1860-1962
Bharat Rathna Sir Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya 1860-1962

Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshwara form the Hindu trinity with each assigned a specific job. Creation, preservation and destruction. Brahma will create. He is the creator of this world, architect of this universe and Vishnu is the preserver of that creation while Maheshwara, Shiva, is the destroyer of what is created so that Brahma will get new contract to create the universe again…

We see this happening since 1947 rather religiously and constitutionally. Nehru was the first Brahma after independence. Indeed he did create an India that would make it industrialised and march towards modernisation. Two major steel factories Bokaro and Rourkela; Bhakra-Nangal dam which he called the ‘modern temple,’ Scientific and Technological Research Centre so on and so forth. However, after the first few years of his 17-year-long rule as Prime Minister down-slide began, administration turned effete, corruption raised its ugly head and finally, culminated in the humiliating defeat in the 1962 China war. Soon after, he died.

Next one to rule us for almost as long a period, 16 years, as Nehru did was his daughter Indira Gandhi. She was more a Maheshwara and less of a Brahma. Bank nationalisation, abolition of the privy purse, yes. However, she was the prime cause for weakening our till then sound and strong constitutional institutions that were in place, in order to perpetuate her rule. She made the Supreme Court and even the Parliament captive in 1975 when she declared the internal emergency and passed draconian laws. Virtual dictatorship.

Time passed. Six years of NDA rule was colourless, spineless. Remember exchanging a terrorist to release passengers of a hijacked plane… in a foreign country… our Foreign Minister personally going…? However, NDA had good excuse for its pusillanimous performance: NDA is not BJP; hence following coalition dharma was a great hindrance and hugely restrictive to function freely.

People answered appropriately when time came. UPA under the leadership of Congress came to rule with Dr. Manmohan Singh as Prime Minister. Now it is about to complete 10 years. But where are we? Are we seeing Dr. Manmohan Singh as the creator of a new, resurgent India? He has wasted his time gathering votes for the 2014 Parliamentary election doling out rice, sugar and edibles and such other concessions to poor voters who are in majority instead of building a new dynamic India creating new industries, infrastructure and schemes that would generate employment, and as a natural, general rule increase per capita income.

The 2014 election-oriented laws and schemes like doling out rice at Re. 1 a kg, cash subsidy etc., by the UPA are counter-development-economic incentives. This will make the beneficiaries lazy, absent themselves from work, spouse to separate and as in Charles Dickens novel to ask ‘Some more Sir.’

Such are the leaders we got after independence. No wonder we still belong to the third world, to the category of developing country, as the developed countries call us.

Contrast these so-called leaders and nation builders with some others; but the most well-known and famous among them is Sir M. Vivesvaraya whose 152nd birthday is today rightly observed as Engineers’ Day. Though it may be a bit of exaggeration to say he was the builder of India when British were ruling us, his contribution was substantial in many areas of development, wherever he served — Bombay, Hyderabad and Karnataka. As for Karnataka, he was really the Brahma, the creator. Son of Karnataka (then Mysore Kingdom), no son of this soil has done so much for its development as he has done in just six years when he was the Dewan from 1912 to 1918. That he was fortunate, so also the people of Mysore, in having Krishna Raja Wadiyar IV as the ruler, a Raja Rishi and philosopher-king. He gave full support to Sir Vivesvaraya’s many visionary projects. Of the many, I must mention at least a few major one’s — KRS Dam, Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd., Bhadravati Iron and Steel Mill, Government Soap Factory, Sandal Wood Oi

l and Soap Factory, State Bank of Mysore, Mysore University, Hydro-Electric Project at Shivanasamudra, Mysore Sugar Factory, Hindu Modern Hotel and Metropole Hotel in our city, Century Club, Bangalore, Engineering College and more. The list seems endless. One man and what a service to the country. A real Brahma.

But sadly we have now only Maheshwaras coming in the way of Vishnu who is prevented from even maintaining what Brahma Sir M. Vivesvarayahad created for us. Look at the maintenance of KRS dam and garden; Bhadravati Steel Mill, HAL and a host of other institutions and industries. Mysore Sandal Wood Oil Factory is closed or almost closed but a huge sandal oil factory is flourishing in Kerala border. Raw material is from Karnataka! Sir M. Vivesvaraya must be turning in his grave!

Such a great man, it is said, had a very disturbing, unhappy family life. The cliche often used while honouring great achievers is that ‘behind every great man there is a woman’, inspiring him. Fate cheated him with his first wife Savithramma, who died early after marriage. Second wife died at delivery. At the persistent request of his mother he married again but this too led to his despair. Thus the aphorism that behind every successful man there is a woman was belied in Vivesvaraya’s case, so also in many other cases.

Some examples. Abraham Lincon. He had a quarrelsome, nagging wife. Field Marshal K.M. Cariappa, father of Independent India’s Defence Forces, rose to that height even as his wife separated when he was a Brigadier. And he never married again. And to go to ancient times, Socrates, the world’s greatest philosopher. He had a nagging, quarrelling and cantankerous wife so much so once while he was having his dialogue with the youngsters of Athens in the garden Arcadia, his wife, enraged, came with a bucket full of water and poured it over his head. Socrates did not lose his cool but simply humoured himself muttering: “I thought it was only thunder, it also rained.”

I think it is Masti Venkatesh Iyengar, the great Kannada novelist and littérateur, who also served at the Palace, while giving a pen sketch of the great builder statesman, had mentioned some of Vivesvaraya’s idiosyncrasies. Sir MV was very meticulous in his sartorial outfit and in his speech highly measured. Carried himself with great dignity at all times even while eating food. For example, while eating banana he would gently peal it to a small length, break it with his fingers and plunk that portion to his mouth. He would not bite it like most do.

How I wish we had builders like Sir M. Vivesvaraya and rulers like Sri Krishnaraja Wadiyar IV. Now let us pray to Shiva and request him to keep quite for just next five years. Who knows Narendra Modi may play the role of Sri Krishnaraja Wadiyar IV. But where would Modi find his Visvesvaraya? Let us pray.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Abracadabra……. Abracadabra   kbg@starofmysore.com / September 16th, 2013

Mysore Police Band

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links, Pre-Independence

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Lakhs of tourists throng the ‘City of Palaces’ to be a part of the world famous Dasara festivities. Among the star attractions is the Mysore Police Band which has been adding flavour to Naada Habba for the past several decades. This weekend’s Star Supplement introduces the Mysore Police Band for those who are newly acquainted with Dasara

An Integral Part of the City’s Culture: 140 years of of Rich Heritage

by  S. Kenneth Shishir

The famous Police Band of Mysore, once an integral part of the Maharaja’s court, has been giving top performances, particularly during the famous Dasara festivities.

Band culture is an integral part of the culture of Mysore. Dating back to 1868, Sri Chamarajendra Wadiyar along with his Dewans formed ‘The Palace Bands’ namely the English Band (playing Western music) and the ‘Karnatak Orchestra’ (playing Karnatak classical music) to cater to the official needs of having ceremonials.

Later, the groups were divided into Karnatak music group and English Band. Then they were rechristened as: ‘Karnataka Government Band’ (English Band) and ‘Karnataka Government Orchestra’ (Karnatak troupe).

This 140 year old heritage is a rich legacy connected to the Mysore Palace. Being great patrons and versatile musicians themselves, Sri Chamarajendra Wadiyar followed by Krishna Raja Wadiyar and Sri Jayachamarajendra Wadiyar encouraged the band and orchestra in a great way. The successive rulers were broad minded enough to integrate this art into the social and cultural fabric of the former Mysore State.

The band was formed under the great patronage of Sri Krishnaraja Wadiyar Bahadur- IV and was known as the Palace Band. These Palace Bands (Indian Orchestra and English Band) were integrated to the Police Department in the year 1951 and were invited to Delhi in the same year for the Republic Day Parade.

The Wadiyars are known for their province- a bastion of music, learning and art. Many members of the Royal Family were themselves well-versed in Karnatak and Western music. As such, they felt the need to establish a regimental Band based on the pattern of the English. During the days of the Maharajas, it was presumably a 150 strong orchestra at par with any symphony orchestra in the world. Many directors and scholars of music such as the renowned Frenchman D’fries, Otto Schmidt of Germany, Dr. Alfred Mistowski from Poland and others were hired to train the local musicians.

The Palace Band underwent a subtle transformation of sorts when it was amalgamated into the Police Band during the 1950s. In 1958, they were brought under the offices of the Mounted Police Company of Karnataka.

The English band has a varied range of musical instruments most of which were procured by the Wadiyars. An array of musical instruments, such as Clarinets, Piccolo, Flute, Oboe, bassoon, Saxophone, Trumpets, French horn, Circle Bass, Tuba, Euphonium, Trombone, Drums, etc.

The Band also boasts of a collection of other instruments such as Piano, Violin, Viola, Cello, Double-Bass, Grecian Harp, Bass-Saxophone, Bass Clarinet, Percussive instruments, etc.

Some rare instruments like Horn Cello, Tubular-Bells, Deagan Organ pipes (Tubular Organ), Accordion, Glockenspiel and Xylophone are also the prized collection.

The band enviably has one of the richest music libraries. It houses printed music of the most exotic styles and genres of innumerable composers arranged for various instruments.

A number of Hindustani and Karnatak ragas that have been transcribed into western notation. The band in view of diversifying from playing only martial music has of recent included instruments like Keyboards, Rhythm Guitar, Bass Guitar and a Drum Kit.

In 1981, Dr.G.V.Rao, the then Director General of Police, was instrumental in combining the Police Bands of all district headquarters to give birth to the first massed band programme in front of the Mysore Palace during the Dasara festivities. With a strength, of some 500 men in spectacular uniforms of various colours, the mass band was the first of its kind in South India, second to the “Beating the Retreat” programme by the armed forces during the Republic Day celebrations in Delhi.

Here the English and Karnatak bands take lead and perform a variety of displays, tunes and drill formations.

‘Abide with Me’ composed by W.H. Monk the favourite hymn of Mahatma Gandhi is played by all the units along with trumpets from a distance, giving it an echoing effect. It is also played with Tubular Bells as a finale at the programme.

The Mysore bands, owing to their reputation and expertise have a training centre of martial music, wherein all District Police Bands come and get trained.

Pieces that the English band plays are compositions like Colonel Bogey, Queens Colours, Where the café lights are gleaming, My regiment, Gladiators farewell, Amparito Roca, Sol a Seville, In a Persian market, Hoch Hiedeksberg!, May Blossom, The Sound of Music, Saare -Jahan se achcha, Sher-e-Jawan, Bharath ke jawan, Vienna waltz, etc.

Alla Figaro, Sealed with a Kiss, El-bimbo, Lambada, Every breath you take, My Way, Congratulations, Beethoven’s fifth and Mozart’s Symphony No.40 are some of the more contemporary adaptations for the concert band done by band Masters Felix M. Joseph, Felician M. Joseph, J.M. Pereira and Arokyaswamy.

Ever since its inception, the Band has been winning awards of the highest order. It was awarded ‘Karnataka Kalashree Puraskar’ by Karnataka Sangeetha Nritya Academy in 2001.

The bands perform during government functions, programmes at Mysore Palace, sports event sorganised by the Police Department, visit of VIPs and VVIPs and any other function, under the directive of the three IGPs in charge. English Band and Karnatak bands perform in city parks and also at KRS during certain occasions.

‘Band House’

In the early 20’s, a separate ‘Band House’ on Mirza Road was constructed to house the band and orchestra. Separate enclosures such as the Instruments’ room, music library and an exclusive concert hall apart from other rooms were part of this magnificent structure. This building is presently used as the office of the Commissioner of Police of Mysore city.

The English Band presently has about 50 musicians while the Karnatak band has about 35 in its fold. The induction of these musicians is based on their musical knowledge and qualifications from reputed universities of music.

Former Band Master Felix speaking to SOM, said that the Band is an integral part of the culture of Mysore from the days of the Maharajas, hence should be preserved for heritage sake and added that musicians from Mysore would love to preserve the rich heritage of Mysore city.

List of Band Masters and Asst. Band Masters till date

J. De’fries, M. Pereira, J.M. Pereira, J. Francis Xavier, Felician Joseph, Felix M. Joseph, Arokyaswamy, M.K.Rajendra and Sudharma.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Features Articles / by S. Kenneth Shishir /  September 15th, 2013

Man who makes Howdah Elephant comfortable

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Records, All, Travel

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Mysore :

Jumboo Savari, the finale of Dasara festival is no doubt the prime attraction in city especially the golden howdah being carried by a mighty humble elephant.

Many are unaware of the intricate preparations to be made before the howdah could be mounted on the back of the elephant.

The howdah is actually placed on a thick mattress which is fastened to the back of the elephant using jute ropes.

The mattress is actually a combination of three different layers colloquially called Gaadhi, Namda and chapu.

The bottom layer Namda is actually a combination of gunny cloth and white cotton cloth woven together to get a soft texture.

Over Namda is Gaadhi which is a huge square gunny sack stuffed with wild grass grown on the bank of lakes.

Chapu is the top most layered thick cloth cover.

In short the three layer mattress is supposed to provide a firm soft support for the howdah and make the bearer elephant comfortable to carry the heavy load for a good distance.

The unsung hero instrumental in making the mattress is Pasha, a mahout of elephant Sarala who retired in 2006 but has also been doing this job of stitching the three-layer mattress right from 1971. His passion for the job and love of elephants has been recognised by the Forest Department to still keep him on the rolls. Pasha’s father Sultan too was a mahout for the Pattada Aane Hamsaraja of Jayachamaraja Wadiyar.

Pasha does not just make Namda, Gaadhi and Chapu but also weaves the thick jute rope from strands which takes about three days to make.

Speaking to SOM, Pasha said that he would begin making the jute rope ten days before Dasara. He added that he has been training other mahouts to make the mattress and rope. However he said that he was not happy to be in the forest all through and wanted his son Mansoor not to step into his shoes.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News / September 12th, 2013

Dasara of yesteryears cannot be replicated says 96-yr-old Gunamba Nanja Raj Urs

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links, Pre-Independence

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Gunamba Nanja Raj Urs, 96, who has donated Rs. 5 lakh to Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan (BVB), Mysore Kendra, to establish a modern Science Laboratory, is a descendent of the Wadiyar family. Her grandmother and Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar’s mother, Vani Vilasa Sannidhana, were sisters. Gunamba, who got married in 1935 to T.B. Nanja Raj Urs, an Assistant Commissioner, is blessed with two sons and a daughter. T.N. Harin Nanja Raj Urs, former President of Mysore Sports Club, is one of her sons. SOM spoke to her at her residence on D. Subbaiah Road here today. Excerpts:

SOM: At 90-plus you look so strong and healthy. What is the secret behind that?

Gunamba: Simple, strict vegetarian diet sans extra spice coupled with gardening to soothe the body and mind.

SOM: The purpose behind your donation to BVB?

Gunamba: I want the students to explore science with better infrastructure.

SOM: What about your education?

Gunamba: No formal education but groomed thoroughly at the Royal School in the Palace premises then, which featured mainly languages — Kannada, English, Telugu and Tamil along with music and other arts. I still remember the Anglo-Indian English teacher Flarigence who was a skilled painter and I too could pick up the skill of the painting art. I can converse fluently in English and I have visited may European countries when I was just 12. Myself and Jayachamaraja Wadiyar grew up together and were class mates at School.

SOM: What about your family?

Gunamba: I got married in 1935 to T.B. Nanja Raj Urs who was an Assistant Commissioner. I have two sons and a daughter.

SOM: Tell us about Dasara then and now?

Gunamba: Dasara of those days cannot be replicated. Now it is just a crowded festival with no discipline. During the Wadiyar’s time Dasara was grand and very meaningful. Being women, we used to watch the grand Durbar in a private enclosure. The Jumboo Savari was marvellous and I still remember once Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar taking along the then Dewan Sir Mirza Ismail with him in the Golden Howdah giving due respect to the Dewan.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News / September 07th, 2013

Son of Esoor, India’s first free village, talks

Amazing Feats, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Inspiration/ Positive News and Features, Leaders, Records, All
Freedom fighter Huchcharayappa. (Express photo)
Freedom fighter Huchcharayappa. (Express photo)

He is 110 years old. But he is not tired of speaking about Mahatma Gandhi, the freedom struggle, his experiences in jail and the days when he was awarded the death penalty for killing government officials as part of the struggle.

He considers Gandhi as god and sings ballads on him and other leaders.

Freedom fighter Huchcharayappa from Esoor village in Shikaripur taluk, the first village in India to declare independence and form a local government in the 1940s, gets emotional when asked about the freedom movement. He has completed just his 3rd standard but speaks English, Hindi and Kannada fluently and recalls  each and every date.

He lost his right eye after a policeman hit him during the struggle, but says, “I lost one eye. My friends lost their lives for our freedom.”

As part of the Independence Day celebrations, Express spoke to Huchcharayappa. Some excerpts:

“The Sahukar Basavanyappa family in Esoor had been supporting the freedom movement. Knowing this, the British set his house ablaze. It burned for weeks and was reduced to ashes. They raped women, robbed houses, assaulted people. When an inspector and Amaldar insulted freedom fighters, the fighters forced them to wear Gandhi topis. The police lathi-charged us and opened fire. Paniyappachar, Gurushantappa and Kenche Gowda were injured. The situation went out of control and the fighters killed the inspector and Amaldar. After this, the British exploited the villagers, including the women and children.”

“The British deployed 500 men to quell protests. Many people escaped. I was arrested and put in Sagar jail. Some 22 fighters were given life imprisonment, while 11, including me, sentenced to death. But our advocates went to the High Court where six people were given death penalty and the rest life imprisonment. Judge Yarlu had pronounced the verdict on March 1, 1943. We were released on October 26, 1946,  as a daughter was born to the Mysore Maharaja.”

‘’When Gandhi visited Shimoga, I was young. We used to inspire others through ballads, songs and dramas. When Gandhi called for the Quit India movement, we declared Esoor independent. When Gandhi was shot dead, people, including women,  committed suicide as they considered him god.’’

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home>  States> Karnataka /  by Jagadeesh Sampalli / ENS – Shimoga / August 15th, 2013

Selling Soda & Nostalgia

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Records, All

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Mysore :

It’s been 61 years now. When we started the shop, the rent was Rs.75 and I was 20,” says Nagaraja Rao, one of the three brothers who started the Soda Factory at Agrahara in city.

The drinks parlour once called ‘The Soda Factory’ has been now renamed ‘Sri Prasanna Cool Centre’ but the old-timers prefer to call it ‘Soda Factory.’ The shop is a throwback to the 1950s with its white textured walls, old tables, an array of colourful rainbow of syrups filled in glass bottles that sit behind the doors. The shop offers more than 10 different soda-based drinks but their popular ones are ‘Sogade Beru soda’ (a drink made of sogade plant root which is good for heart and cholesterol) and surprisingly, a non-soda drink- ‘Rose milk’ !

The Soda Factory opened its doors on February 2, 1954. It was headed by three brothers Nagaraja Rao, Achyutha Rao and Anantha Rao. Over the years, they have experimented with various flours and have set a simple menu that is refreshing and healthy. The homemade soda simply mixes the carbonated water from the soda fountain that’s poured into a glass filled with any combination of flavours. They are known for their homemade soda paired with their locally acquired Sogade Beru and Lemon-lime.

In fact, old Mysoreans still visit them and even the ones who are living outside when they visit Mysore make sure to drop in, says Nagaraja Rao. Also the brothers take turns running the shops.

One of the brothers, Achyutha Rao, who was on a break after preparing Lime Pepper Soda says, “We have seen Mysore changing over all these years. We want people to remember how things once were. There are people who bring their grandkids here and tell them how they remember it. We sell Soda and Nostalgia” and smiles.

Today this soda shop continues to exist, but leads a quiet existence thanks to locals and old times who want a trip down the nostalgia lane.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Feature Articles / by Sumukh Bharadwaj / August 21st, 2013

He uses art to mould young patriots

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Leaders

Davanagere :

Inculcating the spirit of patriotism in young minds is his objective. Painting portraits of freedom fighters is his passion. GJMehandale who has been working for 30 years as drawing teacher at AdityaBirla Public School, Kumarapatnam, in Renebennurtaluk ofHaveri has been pursuing his passion with an objective.

He has made the portraits of over 100 Indian freedom fighters using water proof  ink on khadi cloth of 4×5 feet size. His works include the portraits of Mahatma Gandhi , Motilal Nehru, Rabindranath Tagore, Lokamanya Balagangadhara Tilak, Lala Lajpat Rai, Gopalakrishna Gokhale, Bipinchandra Pal, Chhatrapati Shivaji, Dadabai Naoroji, Mangal Pande, Rajaram Mohan Roy, Sangolli Rayanna, Jhansi Lakshmi Bai and Kittur Rani Channamma. Mehandale also enjoys collecting the biographies of freedom fighters and has published a handbook of over 100 freedom fighters in Kannada.

Mehandale has organized over 95 exhibitions in schools, colleges, as well as at literary events and other socio-cultural platforms. His paintings have drawn the attention of students and general public  across the state, besides other Indian cities. “I conduct exhibitions with the support of Rashtra Gourava Samrakshana Parishat, a Bangalore-based NGO. Thousands of students and others have so far come to see my paintings,” he says with pride.

Mehandale also displays paintings to commemorate the birth anniversaries of freedom fighters as well as days of historical importance like the Quit India movement day.

Harihar’s DRM school headmaster H Chandrappa said such exhibitions are helpful in developing the spirit of patriotism among youngsters. “They encourage the students to know more about the nation’s history as present school curriculum gives them very less information on the same,” said Bhuvaneshwari, an English teacher.

source: http://www.articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Hubli / by S A Gangaraju, TNN / August 15th, 2013

Dr. Abdul Rasheed : The coin man of Mysore

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Records, All

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Mysore :

It is said, “never judge a book by its cover.” Similarly never judge a person only by his looks. Meet Dr. Abdul Rasheed, popularly referred to as Dus ka Doctor, who charges a nominal fees of Rs.10 from poor patients, and who also has the hobby of collecting coins.

This numismatist (one who collects coins) has an amazing collection of more than 3,000 coins, some of them dating back to as far as 300 BC and some as recent as of today.

When asked about what drove Dr. Rasheed to pursue such a time-consuming hobby in spite of his busy schedule, he said that it all began with a curiosity to know about coins of different countries, followed by fascination and ultimately passion.

The journey began in the year 1955 when he was studying in high school where he used to exchange coins which he had in excess from the collections of his forefathers. His grandfather was an Inspector during British rule who had the hobby of collecting coins and he continued the same.

He started with the collection of coins belonging to dynasties like Kalingas, Hoysalas, Cholas, Vijayanagar, Moghuls, coins from East India Company, all of which were made of gold, silver, copper, nickel, aluminium, lead and other alloys.

This fascinating collection further includes coins from the kingdoms of Kashmir, Juwanpur, Malwa, Diwanpur, Gujarat, Bahamanis, Bengal, Shahi and other Princely States which existed during the British period, and also from Goa, Hyderabad, Travancore, Mysore, Arcot, Wadiyars, Pudukote, Peshwas, Maratha etc. A total of 1200 coins of 93 foreign countries including those from the time of Napoleon, Hitler and Queen Victoria, Tipu Sultan; and 2000 coins of India and other unique coins of personalities, events, food, agriculture etc., are his treasure and some, his prized possession. These coins have been collected very lovingly and preserved carefully over the years. They have also been systematically classified, categorised and fixed in proper display boards.

Dr. Rasheed said that he used to collect ancient coins whenever he visited historical places and during his trip abroad and added that he has coins from 3rd century BC, Ghazni era coins from North India and from Kanishka era coins in South India.

He said that he was ably supported by his wife Dr. S.R.Nayyar Zaiba who knew Urdu, Arabic and Parsi languages who helped him read the texts on the coins and re-arrange the same. His children Mohammed Muzammil, who runs a pharmacy on Ashoka road, Mudassir Reza, Managing Director of Hotel Sunshine on Ashoka Road and daughter Dr. Sabhath Rasheed who now lives in UAE, also helped him.

Dr. Rasheed who worked for 22 years as a doctor in Saudi Arabia, Iran and Syria is now settled in Mysore and runs a clinic on Ashoka road.

In his message to the youth, Dr.Rasheed says that the youth and children of today depend a lot on computers for any information as it is readily available without any effort, but the joy and experience one can get by just looking and reliving history through these coins is beyond description. The young can develop this hobby, which would help them know history better, like important dates, inscriptions, personalities, metallurgy and also understand the kind of socio-economic conditions which prevailed during that period.

When asked about his future plans, he said he would like to have exhibitions throughout Karnataka to educate the youth and create awareness among them about these coins and the coinage era. Dr. Rasheed has put in a lot of effort in relentlessly pursuing this hobby. Here’s wishing all the best to this coin man of Mysore to achieve greater success in the years to come.

Dr. Rasheed can be contacted on e-mail: abdul.rasheed194@yahoo.com.

[Noorana is a Senior Manager-Corporate Communication, Indian Oil Corporation Limited.]

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Feature Articles / by Noorana / August 21st, 2013