Category Archives: Historical Links, Pre-Independence

Oscar Fernandes bats for R.K. Narayan Memorial

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

Mysore, Oct. 8:

Following objections to convert R.K. Narayan’s house at Yadavagiri into a memorial in his name by some Kannada litterateurs, the matter was taken up by the Rajya Sabha member Oscar Fernandes who wrote a letter in this regard to the Union HRD Minister Kapil Sibal urging him to allocate funds to set up the memorial. The full text of the letter written by Oscar Fernandes is produced here below:

Dear Shri Kapil Sibal Ji, 5th October 2012

R.K. Narayan, the celebrated writer who wrote in the English language, was a resident of Mysore. A memorial was conceptualised to honour his memory. The creation of ‘Malgudi’ was his contribution to the literary world, as also his creation of so many loved and memorable characters. A controversy has recently broken out with some Kannada writers aligned to the Right-Wing claiming that R.K. Narayan was not a Kannadiga and therefore opposed the establishment of a memorial for him. Some others like Girish Karnad, U.R. Ananthamurthy and others support his memorial. I am enclosing an article written by Prof. K.C. Belliappa, former Vice- Chancellor, Rajiv Gandhi University, in the Outlook Magazine dated 8th October, 2012 for your kind perusal.

In this light, it may be a step in the right direction if your Ministry may kindly consider making some contribution to erect a memorial for Shri R.K. Narayan, who is indubitably one of India’s finest writers in English. I shall be grateful, if you could kindly consider the request and do the needful.

With kind regards,

Yours sincerely,

(Oscar Fernandes)

source: http://www.StarofMysore.com / Home> General News / October 08th, 2012

When Gandhi Came To Mysore

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

The year was 1931, Gandhi on his itinerary stayed back in Mysore to recover from his illness.

When Gandhi was in Mysore, he gave his speech at the Town hall  The place he stayed was Diwan Sheshadri Iyer’s house which today is the commercial tax office of Mysore. He visited the then Holageri which is now the Ashokpuram of Mysore. The KR mills were fortunate to get a visit from this man where he inspired the workers with his presence.

Gandhi was pleased with the administration of the state of affairs here and also the way of life. He called the kingdom – ‘Ramarajya’ . The then king Nalvadi Krishnaraja Wodeyar was called – ‘Rajarshi’ – king amongst the sanyasins. A sanyasin is known for sacrificing his comforts for the well being of people – a title like this to a king, especially from a man like Gandhi stands for itself. Nalvadi’s certainly was the golden reign of Wodeyars for Mysore and Gandhi undoubtedly the golden era of our independence struggle.

Sadly we lost Gandhi on an unfortunate day- 30th Jan 1948. His ashes were immersed close to Mysore and even to this day we see a stone which commemorates it. Any guesses where?

And before we say goodbye.. Happy Gandhi Jayanti!!

source: http://www.royalmysorewalks.com / Home> Blog / by Vinay Nagaraju / October 02nd, 2012

Down the memory lane

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

To Sir(s) with Love: My student days in Maharaja’s College

By K. Vijay Kumar, Former Jt. Director of Information & Publicity

Caption:  The Maharaja’s College in 1915

I had mentioned at the end of my last feature on Yuvaraja’s College (SOM dated 3rd September) that next I would like to take back my memory to Maharaja’s College.

But while doing so, my pen is not moving, my fingers are not able to hold it firmly to write on studying in this great college, the reason being the fear and respect one had towards it. Yes, it was, indeed, a great learning centre in all respects.

Dr. S. Radhakrishnan in the faculty

The very names who taught there starting from Dr. S. Radhakrishnan and many alumni who became distinguished personalities in many fields would prove it. It would become a big list of names if you start counting them. It is also interesting to know from the website of the college that its foundation stone was laid on 27th November, 1889 by the visiting Prince of England, Albert.

It was in 1956, precisely 56 years ago, that I moved into this college from Yuvaraja’s College and came out as a Graduate in 1958. This period, I consider as Golden Days of my student career. On the very first day, it was my pleasure to climb the steps of the college at the entrance. I remember how some of us, while studying in Yuvaraja’s College, eagerly looking at this neighbouring college, thinking when we would become students there.

With an anxious mind we used to go around the college during our leisure, looking at the classrooms from outside — never venturing to go inside the building. I had seen then just only one student in MA class, perhaps in Urdu and Sanskrit subjects.

Kuvempu as Principal

It was Kuvempu who was the Principal when I joined the college. With a dignified look in his usual white close collar coat and pyjama, he would enter the college and climb straight to his chamber upstairs, as students who would gather there watch him with reverence. But in a very short period he was elevated as the Vice-Chancellor of Mysore University.

Prof. CDN, the successor

I cannot forget the friendly and charming personality of that well-known English Professor C.D. Narasimhaiah who succee-ded Kuvempu as Principal. His very presence in the college and going around meeting students, would electrify our minds as I have experienced during my two years student- ship there.

He introduced a couple of new programmes in the interest of students. One was a ‘Teacher-Guide to a group of students’ who would meet together informally over a cup of coffee.

The teacher as a guide would engage his group of students, creating interest in their studies, knowing their background, besides more importantly enquiring about their welfare. This became so popular that each group would wait for that monthly meet with eagerness. I remember our guide was one Prof. Cheluvaraju in Public Administration who with his very useful chat with us, gave guidance to shape our future.

Another was Freshmen Day. When a new batch was admitted to the college, the whole students would gather in the college quadrangle for a get-together when the Principal would welcome them with a speech.

Mitra-Mela, the popular Jr. B.A. Hall

Prof. CDN was also known to give importance to encouraging extra-curricular activities among students. As part of it, the college’s spacious Jr. BA Hall became the centre of activities like debates, staging dramas and other cultural programmes. Thus, a cultural troupe was born with the name ‘Mitra-Mela’ and their very interesting programmes became so popular as to attract an over-crowded student gathering. I recollect even today how much a Muslim student was talented in both singing and acting. The debate wherein my senior co-students V.K. Nataraj (who became University Registrar) and S.R. Vijay (who became an IAS Officer) with their fierce oratory arguing for and against on the subject is still in my memory.

All students of my days will surely remember Principal CDN for his interest in students’ all-round development.

Union Building – Mysore Heritage

The Students’ Union, before our time, was a very popular and strong one with its constructive activities and the college had recognised it with due importance. It was functioning from the adjacent premises known as Union Building. But there were no such activities when I was studying. In fact, the journalism classes were held there in the upstairs.

It is very significant that this building is declared as a Heritage one with due name board installed calling it “Union Building-Mysore Heritage.” I felt happy to see it recently when I took a walk around the college.

It will be interesting if old timers of the college write about the activities of the Union in those days.

[It is sad to see that a room inside this legendary college’s Heritage structure was being altered disfiguring the original door, sawing rudely, which has been stopped in the middle by the University after lecturers of the college opposed vehemently for this alteration (see pic.)]

Collecting news for Monthly

Being a student of journalism (though as an optional subject), I was interested in collecting the college news to publish in our department’s monthly experimental paper, which students eagerly waited to read.

A humourous incident

I had taken Hindi as second language and our Hindi lecturer was one Sachchidananda Murthy. He used to come on bicycle and when I met him once riding on his bicycle, I loudly greeted him with folded hands saying ‘Namaste Masterji.’ He did not even look at me balancing his riding (as he was a little aged and was wearing a ‘Kachhe Panche’).

In his next class, looking at me, he began to give almost a sermon explaining pros and cons of greeting him while cycling — like falling down from bicycle to return my greeting rising his one hand from the handle, injury, hospitalisation, damage to the bicycle, not able to take the class, etc., etc… — with a stern warning that none of us should greet him when he was on his bicycle, though the whole class with amusement controlled laughter as the teacher was serious in his sermon.

These are a few recollections of mine of that great college which I would like to end with gratitude.

To Sir(s) with Love

To all those who taught us.

e-mail: kumarkv59@gmail.com

source: http://www.StarofMysore.com / Feature Articles / October 02nd, 2012

Vintage beauties challenge new entrants at Auto Expo

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

Vintage beauties seen along with the new modles at the expo.

Mysore, Sept. 28

It was an awesome combination of vintage beauties and new entrants at the auto expo organised by the Mechanical Engineering students of Maharaja Institute of Technology at the college campus here yesterday. The vintage vehicles comprised various models of Ambassador cars, Willys jeeps, army jeeps, Fiat cars and Bullet motorcycles of yesteryears, not to exclude an array of Jawa and Yezdi bikes along with scooters from Lambretta.

The new entrants included Land Rover and Nissan, Mercedes, BMW and Ferrari along with the latest bikes from Suzuki, Yamaha and Honda.

The owners of the vintage beauties were seen beaming with pride eager to explain the details of their prized possessions to visitors.

source: http://www.StarofMysore.com / General News / September 28th, 2012

Thambis celebrate 178 years in Bangalore

Business & Economy, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Records, All, Uncategorized

Bangalore:

They were one of the earliest settlers who made Bangalore Cantonment their home. The Madras Sappers came here in 1834 and this year, the Madras Engineer Group & Centre is celebrating its 232 years since raising and 178 years in Bangalore.

As you walk into the campus of the MEG & Centre on the banks of Ulsoor Lake, you can spot the series of milestones that make its evolution. From battles in Egypt in the early 17{+t}{+h} century to the Seringapatnam battle, Sappers have had a wide reach.

They took ‘Bangalore’ to the world much before IT happened. The city became a common word among World War I and II when Sappers invented the Bangalore torpedo. These were long tubes filled with explosives which could clear minefields and enemy barbwires.

During the Kargil conflict, Sappers scaled hostile heights and cleared the ground littered with mine and other obstacles for other troops.

They played a pioneering role in Bangalore’s development. They built many buildings in Cantonment, including the Oriental Building and BRV Theatre. They still desilt Ulsoor Lake regularly and play a prominent role in preserving the water body.

“As Sappers, we are primarily combat engineers. Our job is to ensure the momentum and mobility of our own troops and to delay and restrict advance of our adversary. From the era of handling and planting explosives, constructing bridges quickly, over the years we have graduated to modern warfare where nations are strengthening their nuclear capabilities,” said Lt Col Sanjay Sharma, who looks after training at MEG & Centre.

“A recruit is made to undergo rigorous training and the overall development as a combat engineer and an intellectual warrior is monitored with precision. On successful completion of training here, a Sapper could be posted anywhere in the country — from the highest battlefield in the world, Siachen, the desert of Rajasthan or jungles of North-East India,” he added.

Distinctive headgear

In the early days, Madras Sappers comprised soldiers mostly from South India and the men were referred to as ‘Thambi’ (younger brother in Tamil). “Over the years, we’ve had people from North India too but even a man from Punjab or Rajasthan is called a Thambi,” said an officer of the regiment.

The Sappers’ headgear is a gift from the Cheshire Regiment during the battle of Meanee in 1743. They adopted the headgear since then.

Filed by: Arun/ Cleared by: S Prasad/es

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / Home> City> Bangalore / TNN, by Arun Dev / September 28th, 2012

Mysore’s visionaries

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

Radhika and Sanjeev Jain scan documents obtained from the Karnataka State Archives and discover that two illustrious doctors, Dr B K Narayan Rao and Dr M S Mekhri, made remarkable contributions to the modernisation of hospitals in the erstwhile Mysore State.

As part of our effort to study the history of medicine in Karnataka, we pored through the documents obtained from the Karnataka State Archives and discovered a report of Dr B K Narayan Rao and a document that talked of grant of foreign scholarship to Dr M S Mekhri.

While B K Narayan Rao was the first eye surgeon of Mysore State, Dr M S Mekhri was co-founder of Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute. Their journeys abroad, during the late 1920s and early 1930s, were aimed at modernising not merely Minto Hospital, but many medical institutions in the Mysore State.

Maharaja Chamarajendra Wodeyar whose vision was to make Mysore a ‘model state’ on par with, if not better than, British India set about modernising Mysore through interventions in different spheres, including medicine. As part of this agenda, doctors were specially sent abroad to minutely document the latest advancements in medical knowledge and practice.

Narayan Rao’s visit

One of the consequential visits was that of Dr B K Narayan Rao, for over four months in 1933, to reputed ophthalmic and other medical institutions in Europe and England. Dr Rao, who was then Superintendent of Minto Hospital and Principal, Mysore Medical College, covered 37 hospitals across Berlin, Prague, Vienna, Paris, London, Italy, Switzerland and Geneva.

The outcomes of the visit were: an opening for future Mysore medical postgraduates to study in Vienna; recognition of the work at the Minto Hospital by the Royal College of Physicians and the possibility of recognising Mysore’s MBBS degree. However, what is remarkable is the descriptive 32-page report that Dr Narayan Rao submitted, subsequent to the visit, accompanied by photographs of hospital buildings and equipment, and blueprints of hospital layout plans. The report is rich in detail ranging from treatments to hospital design. Dr Rao comments on new surgical methods and treatment techniques.

He also mentions the rise of plastic surgery as a specialisation after World War I.
Having visited many university hospitals, especially the eye clinics at Vienna, Amsterdam, Berlin and Prague, Dr Rao highlights how they incorporate both practice and research. Subsequently, one of the foremost recommendations he makes to the then government is the need for research laboratories in our hospitals without which “our work can never attain the high quality of many western institutions.”

Lamenting the absence of adequate diagnostic instruments in Mysore hospitals, a situation not unfamiliar even today, Dr Rao says that if the University Eye Clinic, Berlin with about 50 beds and a daily out-patient attendance of 100 patients “has 5 slit lamp microscopes, 4 perimeters, 3 heretometers, we with 125 beds and 300 out-patient attendance have but one of each.” Additionally, “it is a frequent experience for patients to go from Minto to Victoria and vice versa for their BP taken because the one instrument is ‘out of order’”! Further, the few instruments we have are “jealously guarded against both breakage and use”!

Dr Rao’s report ends with a series of recommendations to set up: annual fund to hospitals; library to support research, trained staff to keep records and statistics, testing laboratories and notably, to employ women in these labs. Women, he adds, could also work as almoners, i.e., welfare workers. Citing financial constraints, only a few of the Dr Rao’s recommendations were considered: library, personnel for maintaining records, research and teaching in bigger hospitals, and providing fellowships for specialised training abroad. Others were to wait for better times.

Mekhri’s visit

The other momentous visit is by Dr Muhammad Shaffiuddin Mekhri to England in 1930 for specialised training in Ophthalmology. Dr Mekhri had at the time just completed his MBBS in Madras Medical College and begun working as a Medical Probationer at the Minto Ophthalmic Hospital earning Rs 100/month.

But Dr Mekhri’s great skill and interest was noted by Dr Narayan Rao and Dr Mahommed Usmon, Senior Surgeon in Mysore. What was in dispute however was whether Dr Mekhri could be granted study leave since he had only put in six months of service at the hospital and whether his pay was adequate to maintain himself in England.

The travel and stay was estimated for six months at about Rs 3,575, including passage money at Rs 750 and scholarship amount at Rs.2700 (=£150). The matter was finally resolved with the government approving a one year scholarship of “£275 together with passage to and fro”.  But what is fascinating is the petition submitted by Dr Mekhri to the Government of Mysore where he discusses, along with his meritorious academic record, his “main object…to serve his fatherland and to be one of the humble servants of the Universally beloved sovereign” the Mysore Maharaja.

He mentions his choice of serving in Mysore as a Medical Graduate getting a meager Rs 100 instead of going to Madras where as House Surgeon and subsequently Asst. Surgeon he would have earned Rs 200 rising to Rs 1,000.

What is even more fascinating is his allusion to the immemorial service rendered “faithfully and with distinction” by many generations of the Mekhri family to the Mysore Maharajas. This includes Dr Mekhri’s father Mohamed Jafar Mekhri (City Superintendent of Police) his grandfather Mohamed Myruddin Ali Khan Mekhri (Palace Pensioner) and great grandfather Bakshi Mohiuddin Ali Khan Mekhri (Adalat Committee Bakshi).

The petition symbolises a double movement of a desire for modernity but a means of accessing modernity through not only academic proficiency but also monarchic patronage. It highlights the contrary pulls on science and technology in Mysore that adopted the universalism and modernity of science but evolved under conditions of feudal patronage.

The Mysore State saw itself as a modernising monarchy that had to implement graded reform in the social and political spheres, having to contend with ‘tradition’ but also emerging identities of caste and religion. However, in spheres such as medicine, especially in the incorporation of advancements in science and technology, the state marched ahead with its modernising project.

source: http://www.DeccanHerald.com /  Home> Supplements> Spectrum> Heritage / September 18th, 2012

Boon a minute

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

The Minishamba Temple / The Hindu

In a tiny and dilapidated temple on the banks of the Cauvery, we discover a quick-fix goddess

The lone black horse looks away even as its owner drags it reluctantly towards me. It is almost twilight and the lights have just come on in this little hamlet called Ganjam located at the furthest end of Tipu Sultan’s capital town Srirangapatna. Some college girls who have come on a tour are stealing glances at the local boys who have gathered around the temple and are lost in a wave of giggles.

The man asks me if I want to go on a ride. I refuse with a smile, wondering why tourists would want to go on a horse ride in front of a temple. He shrugs and mutters, “We will go around the town. There are several tourist places here.” The horse is, however, reluctant. It can barely balance its gaudy headgear as it looks wistfully away.

The village Ganjam is indeed filled with tourists. Besides the Ranganatha Swamy temple in the main town, several ruins and palaces from Tipu Sultan’s era dot the village. However, I am interested in a temple located right at the end of the hamlet, on the banks of the river Cauvery, dedicated to a goddess who they say grants your every wish within minutes. Which is why her name is Nimishamba! Her power, attributed to Goddess Parvathi, ensures that your prayers are answered in a ‘nimisha’ or a minute.

The locals besiege you with flowers, lemons and fruits as I walk barefoot into the ancient temple.

An old dilapidated monument, the temple rests peacefully on the banks of the river Cauvery. I hear that it was built by Mummadi Krishnaraja Wodeyar some 400 years ago. But the priest tells me that they believe that it dates back to the years of Adi Shankaracharya and point to a ‘srichakra’ carved on a stone in front of the deity.

I wonder about the name, Nimishamba, and about the story behind it. “There may be many stories but eventually it’s about faith. Even the ancient Puranas speak about prayers being granted in a minute if you pray with devotion,” he theorises, before addressing a fellow devotee who is interested in the many ceremonies organised by the temple. Later, I am told that the goddess came to the support of a local king within a minute of his prayers when he was fighting his enemies. I learn that there are other Nimishamba temples in Bangalore as well, but this is probably one of the earliest.

“People come here with all kinds of prayers — to get married, to have children, to do well in business, to get good health. It is all your belief. Close your eyes and pray and you will get whatever you want,” he says as he walks away. The bell rings as the arati finishes.

I step out and look at the river bathed in a sheath of twilight, as the clouds turn dark and threaten to rain.

I tell myself that faith is always comforting. And in our days when time is a precious commodity, it is reassuring that our prayers will be answered soon.

source: http://www.TheHindu.com / Home> Life & Style> Travel / by Lakshmi Sharath / September 14th, 2012

Paintings of Tipu’s death & Hindu temple for auction at UK

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

Mysore, Sept. 12

Mullock’s Auctions, United Kingdom, will be auctioning a selection of Indian artifacts, some after the annexation of Mysore by the British, including an important 18th century watercolour of a Hindu Temple and a painting of Tipu Sultan on Sept. 27 at Ludlow Racecourse, Shropshire, UK. A British School painting depicting death of Tipu Sultan dating to 1828 is expected to fetch 2000 – 3000 pounds.

Another 18th century water-colour painting of Gavi Gangadhareshwara Temple in Mysore by British artist Lt. James Hunter will also be auctioned. James Hunter was a Lieutenant in the Royal Artillery under Cornwallis during the Third Anglo-Mysore War where British and Company troops defeated Tipu Sultan.

The watercolor was published in the book Picturesque Views in the Kingdom of Mysore in 1804 and is expected to fetch between £600 to £800. Other notable pieces include several early books on Mahatma Gandhi and historical documents relating to India.

source: http://www.StarofMysore.com / General News / September 12th, 2012

Pages from History: Lansdowne’s Mysore connection

Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Records, All, World Opinion

By Prof. A.V. Narasimha Murthy, former Head Department of Ancient History & Archeological, University of Mysore

The name of Lansdowne is on the lips of every Mysore- an for the past one week for a wrong reason, that being the collapse of a building due to heavy rains which lashed the city of Mysore recently. Unfortunately, the collapse of this heritage building took a toll of precious young lives, injuring others. The entire city mourned the death of the innocent lives.

Some of my friends asked me a question, “Are you for the tottering heritage buildings or for the present and future?” It made me pensive as I could not give an immediate reply. It is hard to choose between the two. Finally, I said to myself that this is due to human failure and not the fault of the heritage building. Had the conservation wing of the concerned department taken proper steps at the proper time, things would have been different. Even the people who were using this building for their business are to be blamed for their wrong decision of going to the court against vacating the building which would have taken away their livelihood temporarily till the completion of the repair work.

Some years ago when Chiranjeevi Singh was in-charge of the Mysore Palace, the Palace was found to be structurally weak as not to take the load of Dasara music programmes. He took the decision of not conducting the Dasara music programme at Amba Vilas. Many eyebrows were raised and politicians showed their anger towards this IAS officer by going to the Vidhana Soudha at Bangalore to bring pressure on him. Good sense prevailed on the power that was and saved a possible calamity. Consequently, the Dasara music programmes take place in front of the Palace without endangering either the Palace or the music lovers. But that was not to be the case of Lans-downe building.

Lansdowne (1845-1927) was a famous Viceroy of British India and that is how he came to have a link with Mysore. He was born in an Irish family on Jan. 24, 1845. His full name was tongue twisting, Henry Charles Keith Petty-Fitzmaurice, 5th Marquess of Lansdowne. His father was Henry IV and mother was Emily. They were rich and naturally he was educated at Oxford and at the age of just 21, he succeeded to his father’s position. He married Maud Evelyn Hamilton. He was elected to the House of Lords from the Liberal party and became the Chief of Treasury under Prime Minister Gladstone. He resigned and became Governor General of Canada. Because of his vision and efficiency, he was appointed as the Viceroy of British India in 1888 and he continued in that post till 1894.

His period was very eventful in British Indian administration. His main contribution was the extension of British Empire by annexing certain areas, particularly North-East India. He also took various steps to enhance the opportunities for Indians to learn English. He dabbled in the politics of Afghanistan as also Manipura and Kashmir. Practically he cheated the people of Manipura and well-meaning Britishers also condemned him on this account.

There were hundreds of Maharajas in British India most of whom were stooges of the British Empire. To curb their power, Lansdowne brought an Act which compelled the Maharajas to maintain a separate army to help the British in times of need. Thus the Indian Maharajas had to waste huge amounts of money to maintain this white elephant. Even the Maharaja of Mysore did the same to curry the favour of Lansdowne. The contemporary Mysore Maharaja was Chamaraja Wadiyar IX and he took special care to keep the Viceroy Lansdowne in good humour.

After retirement from India as Viceroy, he served as the Minister in-charge of wars. In the meantime, he lost his son in First World War (1916) and this had serious impact on his health. Consequently, he passed away on June 3, 1917. On the whole he was considered a good, benevolent and cultured administrator.

The British Governors and Residents were always creating problems to the rich Maharajas to get maximum benefits for themselves. The then Governor requested Chamaraja Wadiyar IX to invite Viceroy Lansdowne and his wife to Mysore to show them the good work that was being done in the State. It was decided to build an elegant and architecturally beautiful building to commemorate his visit. The Viceroy arrived in Mysore on Nov. 10, 1892 and inaugurated the building which was then known as Lansdowne Bazaar (market). Lansdowne praised the Maharaja in glorious terms.

It was built at a cost of 89,000 rupees. It extended upto the Devaraja Market. In course of time that portion was removed to make way for future development. It even had a fountain. The building has cusped arches with a small walk-path. The first floor also had rooms which were leased out on rent.

In recent years (half a century ago), it housed a variety of small businesses such as DTP, photoframe, ayurveda shop, dentist, khadi shop, newspaper house and a juice & ice cream shop called Phalamrutha.

This Phalamrutha was managed by Y.S. Gundappa, a grand old man who was also a freedom fighter and a philanthropist. It is said that when Gandhiji came to address a public meeting at nearby Town Hall, he came to Phalamrutha and tasted the sogade root juice which was Gundappa’s speciality. I had taken Dr. Mathoor Krishnamurthy to this place. Not only we tasted sogade juice but also got a good donation from Achuta, the grandson of Gundappa.

The khadi emporium was also sanctified by Mahatma Gandhi’s visit. Lansdowne building was also a centre of journalists of the city. It housed the offices of Thayinadu and Mysore Patrike.

The fate of this celebrated building is now uncertain. Culture-minded people are watching with fingers crossed whether Lansdowne building will raise or go down into the pages of history. For the present, it is a million dollar question.

source: http://www.StarofMysore.com / Feature Articles / September 02nd, 2012

Give back our land: Pramoda Devi Wadiyar urges Govt.

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

Captions: 1) Pramoda Devi Wadiyar addressing a media conference at the Palace this morning. 2) Pramoda Devi Wadiyar with her husband Srikanta Datta Narasimharaja Wadiyar’s sisters Indrakshi Devi and Vishalakshi Devi (extreme right). [Pic. by Pragathi Gopalakrishna]

Mysore, Aug. 21

Pramoda Devi Wadiyar, wife of Srikanta Datta Narasimharaja Wadiyar, the scion of the royal family of Mysore and former MP, said this morning that the 1563 acres and 31 guntas of ‘B’-Kharab lands at the foot of Chamundi Hill are the private properties of the Palace.

Addressing a media conference at the Palace, She demanded that the area be surveyed and whatever unoccupied land remains, be handed over to the Wadiyars after issuing Khata in the name of the royal family.

“Till the framing of the Constitution of India and the nation becoming a republic, the then Maharaja was the supreme authority of the landed property coming under the State of Mysore and hence, his descendants are the rightful owners of the property,” said Pramoda Devi and added that the recent contention made by MLC G. Madhusudan, stating that the said land belonged to the State government, has been made without having proper knowledge about the matter.

She also deplored the statement made by former DC Harsha Gupta that the said land was ‘B’ Kharab and said that he too did not have adequate knowledge about the lands as it was directly inherited by Srikanta Datta Narasimharaja Wadiyar from his father Jayachamarajendra Wadi-yar, with the consent of his sisters who did not seek a share in this particular property. Jayacha-marajendra Wadiyar had declared his assets in 1950 and had distributed them among his family members then.

“Some portions of the lands were acquired by the civic authorities for creation of roads and other infrastructure, some areas were made into residential layouts and some pieces were gifted to various people by the Maharaja himself,” said Pramoda Devi.

Pramoda Devi urged that the remaining land that lies vacant — excluding the portions for which genuine Khatas have been issued earlier — be surveyed, Khata issued in the name of the descendants of the royal family and taxes affixed accordingly.

“We have been urging the authorities concerned to do this (issue Khata for the Palace property) since the past 18 years. However, none of the governments have cooperated,” she said and suspected political ill-will behind the inaction.

Wadiyar’s sisters Indrakshi Devi and Vishalakshi Devi, who were elsewhere in the Palace, were called in later to the media conference to prove their consent over the sisters not seeking shares in their brother’s property.

source: http://www.StarofMysore.com / General News /  August 21st, 2012