Category Archives: Historical Links, Pre-Independence

In Black & White : Stop eyeing private Heritage properties

April 25, 2016Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links, Pre-Independenceadmin

1) R.K.Narayan’s house still under restoration. 2) F.K. Irani’s bungalow in dilapidation.

by Vikram Muthanna

Recently, a few politicians called our office sounding panicked. They said the windows of Irani’s house were being broken. For a moment, I thought an angry mob was attacking my friend Raian Irani’s house! Then they clarified that it was his father, the legendary F.K. Irani’s old house that was being demolished.

The house that these politicians were talking about is ‘Kripalaya,’ located in the corner, between the Police Commissioner’s Office and Ginger Hotel in Nazarbad. It was purchased by Ideal Jawa India Limited when Farrokh Khudamurad Irani was its Chairman from the Maharaja Kumari Kamakshi Devi Trust.

After the Ideal Jawa factory shut down, this bungalow was auctioned off along with the Jawa factory land, where Sankalp Central Park stands today, by the Karnataka High Court to pay off factory employees in July 2003.

Now it seems, M/s Sweety Property Developers (P), who bought the property 13 years ago is demolishing the dilapidated bungalow. But suddenly our city fathers have risen to save it. But save it from what? And save it from whom? If anything, our city’s land and buildings need to be saved from the very people who are supposed to protect it.

This reminds me, of late it seems some local leaders who are supposed to promote garbage collection to maintain our cleanest city tag are reportedly using garbage for their own “collection”!

Yes, if you have a commercial establishment or if you are building a house and don’t “pay up,” they will simply mark the area in front of your complex or house as a community garbage dump and then instruct the garbage collector not to show up for a few weeks. Soon the stench will render your nostrils numb and you will be forced to pay through your nose to get it cleared. Citizens are being held for ransom with the threat of garbage! So our city’s cleanliness and heritage are not really a very big priority for some of our city fathers.

Now, indeed all of them are right, we must honour F.K. Irani, but why this sudden flood of affection for Mr. Irani just when his old house is being demolished? After all, when this bungalow was auctioned the same people were alive, kicking and politicking; so why didn’t they ask the government to buy it in auction then? Also the same people drove past this bungalow for 13 years as it stood there rotting, why didn’t they think of restoring it then?

Also F.K Irani lived in another house called Bloomfield in the same row for many years; so should we make it heritage too and snatch it away illegally from the private owner? More importantly, where was this care for heritage when Ginger Hotel was built after demolishing another heritage home right next to Kripalaya? Where was this noise when the Palace Garage behind this row of heritage homes was demolished and sold to a builder as recently as four years ago?

Even more interesting while the Corporators want to restore F.K Irani’s house, just down the road from this bungalow is the F.K. Irani Circle. Yes, there is a Circle named after this amazing entrepreneur, philanthropist and visionary. The circle is an insult to the great man. They cannot maintain a Circle in F.K Irani’s name and now they want to take away a bungalow, which has been legally sold to another private citizen years ago?

Even more interesting, one of the politicians who said, “we must save the house as Irani built great institutions for Mysuru” actually had joined his party members in asking the government to shut down Mysore Race Club (MRC) calling it a place for gamblers. But guess he forgot it was Mr. Irani who founded this institution, which today employs 1,900 people and pays the government Rs.25 crore in taxes, has funded 80,000 free eye surgeries.

Also interestingly while this political party called MRC a gamblers den, the same party gave late M.A.M. Ramaswamy, India’s largest Race Horse owner a Rajya Sabha ticket! Let it be.

Now all this talk of restoring and heritage, all the showering of adjectives such as respect, legendary, visionary etc.., reminded me that we are incapable of securing, restoring and respecting our legends or heritage. Remember what happened to R.K. Narayan’s house?

Our city’s legendary writer R. K. Narayan’s (RKN)house stands in Yadavagiri like an orphaned elder; dry to the bone, dilapidated, helpless and lonely. With this R.K. Narayan’s fears have come true. When he was asked why he sold his manuscript to the United States, RKN said “if I had given my manuscripts to the (Indian) government archives, they would have dumped it in some corner where it would have been lying gathering dust and I would have got an acknowledgement on a buff paper. In Boston, they are preserved in air-conditioned lockers.”

Yes, RKN was right. Not only is his manuscript preserved, he also got paid for it. If he had given it to our government, first he would have been emotionally blackmailed by the press and litterateurs to give it away for free, then the government would have preserved it so well that it would be gleaming. Gleaming because silver fish would be chomping away at the manuscript. Just like how they are now “preserving” his house.

Also while our leaders keep harping about “heritage” what have they done to create a Heritage Policy like in European nations? In those countries, if you live in a heritage home and keep it as it is, you get tax breaks. If you need assistance to restore your heritage home, the government will send in experts to help you. They will assist you in getting grants to pay for upkeep. If you want to sell it, the government will pay you market price. Here we just find a reason to harass a private citizen who has bought or inherited an old house from his family.

According to the new CDP, private heritage properties are exempt from the government list. Instead of eyeing private heritage buildings, the Corporators can make use of one of the 131 heritage buildings owned by the government in Mysuru and turn it into a History Museum. For now, our leaders can first restore our roads.

e-mail: vikram@starofmysore.com

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> In Black & White / by Vikram Muthanna / April 24th, 2016

JSS Mahavidyapeetha : Golden Jubilee 1954-2004

April 23, 2016Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Education, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Records, Alladmin

A pictorial capsule ‘Chitra Samputa’

Adi Jagadguru Sri Shivarathreeshwara Shivayogi (JSS)established the Suttur Mutt in deference to the wishes of an emperor of Chola dynasty about 1,000 years ago, according to the apocryphal records of history.

Since then (950 AD) till now there have been 24 Jagadgurus for the Suttur Mutt, located 24 kms from Mysuru city by the side of the quiet flowing Kapila river.

The present Pontiff is Jagadguru Sri Shivarathreeshwara Deshikendra Swamiji, who at age 30, after succeeding Dr. Sri Rajendra Swamiji, who passed away in 1986, has taken the educational service, cultural and social activities of the Mutt to such dizzy heights that today Suttur Mutt has established under the umbrella of a common name JSS Mahavidyapeetha more than 300 different educational, social and cultural institutions. It is thus serving the society at large at a time the government is unable to fulfil its obligations. In a sense, JSS Mutt is effectively supplementing the government’s efforts in helping the poor and the needy. In the absence of royal patronage that was available during the days of the Maharajas in Mysuru for promoting art and culture the JSS Mutt is playing that role also to some extent.

The JSS Mahavidyapeetha had decided to publish four commemorative books on the occasion of its Golden Jubilee Year in 2004 and one among them was a Coffee – Table book aptly called ‘Chitra Samputa,’ a pictorial book of 301 pages that reflected the history of Suttur Mutt and also the JSS Mahavidyapeetha. By any imagination this is a daunting and time-consuming task for anyone but to imagine that it has taken inexplicably 11 years, despite the resources available, makes one wonder why.

My guess is getting old pictures, some from the archives, some from different sources must have taken time. But after going through the book, I felt the wait and the delay have not gone in vain. The quality and selection of pictures tell it all — the history of the JSS Mutt and its institutions are well and effectively put between the covers of this 301-page book with high production value. Kudos to its editor S.M. Jambukeshwar, who is a talented professional photographer, who retired after serving the JSS Mutt for many years.

The JSS Mutt could not have chosen a more deserving and qualified person for this responsibility for the simple reason that Jambukeshwar, as I know him for the last over 35 years, is a serious and committed person when it comes to discharging his given responsibility or in whatever he does. In our early days, he would willingly give Star of Mysore and Mysooru Mithra news-photographs not only that related to the Mutt and the JSS educational and cultural activities but also of wildlife and other news pictures he had taken. A task master, he would never accept the second best. These personal and professional qualities of Jambukeshwar are seen on each page of the book and in each photograph thus enhancing the book’s value and in achieving the goal for which the book is published.

While I was perusing this book in my office, a friend barged in on some errand and was curious. Our conversation went at a tangent to the complex character of Hindu religion, the way it evolved over four thousand years in the Indian Sub-Continent and beyond leaving remnants of temples, idols and religious practices among the people from the early Vedic period.

Of the primordial divine Trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshwara, each with a responsibility of creating, preserving and destroying repeating itself to infinity, only Vishnu and Shiva are dominant in Hindu religion — Vaishnavites and Shaivites.

Jss Mutt follows Shiva traditions going back to 10th century, as I mentioned earlier.

In Karnataka, Lord Basavanna gave Shaivism a new thrust in the 12th century, whose followers are known as Lingayats.

Be that as it may, my friend tells me that there are five Veerashaiva Mutts in India known as ‘Pancha Peeta,’ each headed by a Jagadguru. They are Kedar, Kashi, Sreeshaila (in Andhra), Ujjain and Balehonnur (in Karnataka).

For me the idea of Shiva is that of Pashupathinatha originating from the Mohenjodaro and Harappan civilisation (now in Pakistan).

Vishnu is seen in the avatar of Rama and Krishna appearing in the epic Ramayana and Mahabharata as also Bhagavatam respectively.

As for Shiva, we have Shiva Purana mythology.

The Hindu pantheon is said to have 33 crore Gods and Goddesses — flight of imagination — and it is a religion of celebration that provides inspiration to artists — actors, painters, writers, dancers, sculptors, musicians and who are in the creative world — to express themselves in each one’s medium as an offering to the divine.

For Hindus God could be formless but in worship and celebration they find God in the form of an idol or a picture or a carving. For the lay person sans any creative talent, there is Bhakti Marga, simply pray all by oneself, not in the congregation as in other religions. That is the uniqueness of Hinduism. Let it be.

Now to revert to the book, here are some of the photographs I think will interest our readers. The book is clearly divided into different sections beginning with the first one titled ‘History’ giving a brief history of the Mutt. There are 12 sections, the last one being on ‘Buildings.’

Present Pontiff Sri Shivarathri Deshikendra Swamiji will be 60 years come August 20, 2016. It is learnt, Sri Shivarathri Deshikendra Swamiji has discontinued the tradition of annually sitting on the throne and also of being carried in a palanquin. Well, when kingdoms have fallen and thrones are destroyed, why continue the incongruous tradition created by the sycophants? Saints should indeed lead a frugal, simple, austere life, not succumb to the pomp and pageantry of thrones and palanquins that should belong only to kings. Sri Shivarathri Deshikendra Swamiji has indeed set a very good example to those Swamijis who are still trapped in this show of temporal power in place of spiritual power.

And finally, if one wants to see VIP politicians since independence, this book will help. However, I found VVIPs like Gandhiji, Nehru, Vallabhbhai Patel, C. Rajagopalachari and Mrs. Indira Gandhi missing…

The book at Rs. 1,500 is worth as a Coffee-Table book and as an addition to the library.

e-mail: kbg@starofmysore.com

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Abracadabra….Abracadabra / by K.B.Ganapathy / April 22nd, 2016

125-Year-Old living legend Pandit Sudhakar Chaturvedi

April 23, 2016Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Inspiration/ Positive News and Features, Leaders, Records, Alladmin

Pandit Sudhakar Chaturvedi [Pic. courtesy : Taranga]

by H.R.Bapu Satyanarayana

This article refers to the ‘Health Capsule’ published in Star of Mysore dated April 14, 2016 under the caption: ‘Who is the oldest person who ever lived?’ The name of the oldest verified person was stated to be a French woman Jeanne Calment, who lived to be 122 years and 164 days old and died on Aug. 4, 1997.

In this connection, I would like to mention about Pandit Sudhakar Chaturvedi, who is presently staying in Jayanagar 5th Block, Bengaluru, and celebrated his 124th birthday on Ramanavami Day (April 15, 2016). This reminded me of Babasaheb Ambedkar whose 125th birth anniversary was celebrated on Apr.14, 2016. Charlie Chaplin was also his contemporary for he would have been 127 years old on Apr. 16, 2016.

I personally spoke to the Pandit and wished him on his birthday. An article has appeared in the Kannada Magazine ‘Taranga’ (dated Apr. 21, 2016) giving a brief account of his life. My wife and I met him about two years ago when he was invited to a function and stayed at the Mysore University Guest House and presented a book on my father. A bachelor, the Pandit has witnessed three centuries during his lifetime and yet his vigour never runs short. Even now, on every Saturday between 5.30 and 6.30 in the evening, he meets people in his house for Satsang to disseminate Vedic knowledge.

His ancestors hailed from Moghul Sarai near Kashi and settled down in Kyathasandra in Tumakuru district. Here are some excerpts from the aforementioned article:

Pandit Sudhakar Chaturvedi is a master of the four Vedas and has published the same in 20 volumes. He was drawn by Mahatma Gandhi’s credo and had a very intimate association with him. Gandhiji, recognising his keen intellect, invited Pandit to work with him and that is how he stayed in Gandhiji’s Sabarmathi Ashram.

He was a person of independent mind and would quote the authority of Veda for everything. In fact, he made it clear to Gandhiji that his first calling was spreading Vedic knowledge and that he would work without compromising his focus on it.

Pandit has participated in the freedom struggle, served the cause of Dalits, helped remove caste discrimination, overseen thousands of inter-caste marriages (under the aegis of Arya Samaj) and has spread Vedic knowledge in Kannada, Sanskrit, Hindi and English. In short, he is a multi-dimensional personality with knowledge of Veda, Upanishad, grammar, ganitha, astrology, yoga etc. Though he has slowed down due to advanced age but while reciting Veda he will not stumble. He can recall facts with encyclopedic memory. The Pandit, who has spent 13 years in jail, is a very simple person and follows a simple life-style. Whoever comes to meet him he talks to them with a smiling face and will not fail to impress them with his humorous quotes.

It is hard to tell that this man, convivial in every sense of the word, has suffered from a heart problem twice and has only one working kidney. During the freedom struggle he also had to suffer Police brutalities which only compounded over his jail term.

During his association with Gandhiji he met many eminent personalities. There are many interesting incidents connected with his life and the following few facts would serve to highlight a measure of his personality.

1. He was the sole person who performed the last rites of all those who were massacred during Jallianwala Bagh firing in 1919. At that time, he was just 24-years-old.

2. In Sabarmathi Ashram, Khan Abdul Gaffar Khan and his son Wali Khan were staying for a week as his guests. On the fourth day of their stay, Gandhiji was in a dilemma and called Pandit Chaturvedi and said, ‘Poor chaps without non-vegetarian food their meals might not be satisfying, shall I call a butcher and arrange for non-vegetarian food?’ In reply, Chaturvedi said, ‘I will bring them what they want, just ask them.’ The guests, however, said that they would abide by the rules of the Ashram.

3. What Chaturvedi says on dharma is noteworthy: It is believed that in Krutha Yuga there was respect for dharma and it is getting reduced gradually in other Yugas and in Kali Yuga there is no dharma. Chaturvedi says this is sheer bunkum. Adharma existed in all Yugas.

4. Pointing out certain contradictions, he says that Bhagavad Gita has changed to suit the times but the original version was not like this. How it has changed only the scientists can unravel.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Feature Artices / April 22nd, 2016

Lighting the 12th century lamp

April 22, 2016Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Leaders, Records, Alladmin

Seeking the truth: The objective of science and philosophy is the same, says Basrur Subba Rao Photo : Bhagya Prakash K

Basrur Subba Rao, a former IAS officer, began to study the philosophers of Karnataka after his retirement. His fascinating book, Lingayat Philosophy, will be released on Saturday

Ask Basrur Subba Rao about his career before he began the study of the mystics post-retirement, he dismisses it in one stroke as “hale kathe” (old story)! An IAS officer formally, Subba Rao worked as Deputy Secretary to the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources. He began to study and translate the philosophers of Karnataka, and published his books ‘Kanaka Dasa’ in 2001, and ‘Allama Prabhu’ in 2007. His research paper titled ‘Role of Buddhism and Kashmira Shaivism in Lingayata Philosophy of Karnataka’ was accepted for presentation at the Indian Philosophical Congress, 90th Session, held in Bodh-Gaya in February 2016.

He is all set to release his third book, ‘Lingayata Philosophy’, an outcome of six years of research. The book, as he himself explains, elucidates the philosophy of 12th century Lingayatism embodied in 15,000 Kannada spiritual poems or vachanas. It presents translations and analyses of over 520 vachana extracts taken from the works of 60 Lingayata sharanas and sharanes. It includes historical reviews, photographs and a comparison of Lingayata and Virashaiva philosophies.

Excerpts from an interview with the author:

The title of your book in Kannada is ‘Lingayata Darshana’ while in English it is ‘Lingayata Philosophy’ which is not exactly the same. Isn’t darshana a more loaded word vis-à-vis philosophy?

You have made a sharp comment. ‘Philosophy’ refers to a body of knowledge; ‘darshana’ implies effort to acquire that knowledge. The first word is ‘passive’ the second is ‘active’, it connotes seeing, looking, observing, perceiving (see Monier Williams Dictionary, p 470). A book title permits space only for a word or two, not a sentence. So I chose ‘philosophy’. It is not wholly correct, but will do.

What led you to the study of Lingayata dharma? The profession that you pursued earlier on in your life was on a totally different trajectory.

I took up the study of Kannada mystics after retirement. The methodologies of science and philosophy do not conflict. The objective is the same: seeking the truth, but the means are different; in science, it is research and experimentation, in philosophy it is thinking and introspection. The Lingayata sharanas combined both. They were medieval scientists. For example: they knew about how the moon affects tides, and how gravity ‘pulls down the winds to earth’ (many years before Newton ‘discovered’ gravity). I have devoted a whole chapter to the ‘scientific spirit’ of the sharanas. They were fascinated as to why flood water destroys land but not itself, why a flint sparks a fire but does not catch fire, why water ‘swallows’ fire but does not get burned? What is the explanation for this ‘selectivity’ in nature? Today’s scientist knows the answers, but these questions were asked by sharanas almost a 1000 years ago. That is where the credit must go.

Your earlier book was on Allama Prabhu. He is truly one of the greatest vachanakaras and also the most abstract of them all. Can you speak about your journey with him.

Allama Prabhu opened my eyes to 12th century vachanas. But there were many sharanas who were as great as Allama but remain unknown. Molige Marayya, Arivina Maritande, Chennabasavanna, Ghattivalayya, Madara Dhulayya, Chandimarasa were philosophers of equal rank. Further, Lingamma, Mahadevi, Muktaykka, Akkamahadevi and Nilamma were sharanes who were as profound as Allama but remain unrecognised. The sky of 12th century Karnataka literature is aglow with a hundred brilliant stars.

The fact that Allama is difficult also makes him inaccessible to the Veerashaivas who would have institutionalised him as they have done to Basavanna. What do you think?

You are right. But this sort of selectivity happens. Over a hundred sharanas and sharanes of the 12th century have composed nearly 15,000 vachanas. In a basket full of diamonds which do you pick? In my book I have included extracts of some 520 vachanas in order to increase their number and show that vachana literature is not just poems of a few but a mammoth literature arguably unmatched in Indian literature.

Lingayatism is heterodox and therefore moderate. In comparison, Veerashaivism is more militant. Is this the right way to look at this?

The structure of the two Shaiva faiths is different because the sources of the philosophies are different in time. It is not fair to look at this as some sort of war between the two sects and compare the warriors! They are like brothers in the same family. Sure, there are major differences, but both were born to the same father. The Krishna Yajurveda is the common source of Sadyojata (Lingayatas), Shiva and Rudra (Virashaivas). Hopefully, a time will come when Lingyatas and Virashaivas will consider themselves as brothers, as two limbs of one great Karnataka faith.

You have dedicated an entire chapter to Memory and Computer. It is fascinating reading. This connection of science and vachanakaras seems unprecedented.

You have touched on a key point. I was astonished when I first read the vachanas and saw that they had discovered the mechanism by which the brain receives, stores and retrieves thoughts the way our computers do. I hope present-day scientists realise that 12th century Kannadigas had already thought of what they think is their stunning discovery! In fact, as I have described in my book, the role of memory was first described in the Chandogya Upanishad, thousands of years ago.

Lingayata Philosophy will be launched on April 23 at 10.30 a.m. at the Alliance Franciase de Bangalore. The book launch will be followed by a performance based on the book, ‘Like camphor on Fire’ choreographed by Kathak-dancer Madhu Nataraj.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Features> Friday Review / by Deepa Ganesh / Bengaluru – April 21st, 2016

Mandd Sobhann aims to raise Konkani Museum, community’s most prestigious project in three years

April 19, 2016Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Inspiration/ Positive News and Features, Leaders, Records, All, Traveladmin

Mangaluru :

Mandd Sobhann, promoters of Konkani Museum, dubbed Konkani’s most ambitious project, have set themselves 3-year time frame to complete the project. CM Siddaramaiah laying the foundation stone for museum at Kalaangann, Shaktinagar on April 21 will mark another step towards realizing the project, cost of which is estimated at Rs 30 crore. The first step incidentally was laid on June 15, 2013 with a unique move of asking donors to donate a cent of land.

With the museum coming up on one-acre land abutting Kalaangann, the task before the cultural organization is now to raise required funds. Giving this dream project a small fillip is a budgetary grant of Rs 2.5 crore that Siddaramaiah announced in the budget this year. With a similar amount assured in next year’s budget, the organization is left with the task of raising a further Rs 25 crore and try and tap newer sources of funding rather than go to their usual donors.

Eric Ozario, gurkar of Mandd Sobhann told reporters that the Central government, governments of Goa and Kerala, and even UNESCO is on his organisations radar for funds. “We have spread our tentacles far and wide in our effort to raise funds for this project and even deputed people to liaison with authorities concerned to meet our objective,” he said, adding the plans for the museum are big and will require concerted efforts to realize the same with equal determination.

Describing the project as world-class anthropological museum in the making, Eric said it is largely inspired by the Don Bosco Centre for Indigenous Cultures, Mawlai in Shillong. “It is our endeavor to document, promote and preserve Konkani cultures of Konkani speaking communities wherever they exist for the future,” and not limit it to a mere collection of artefacts. “There will be digital documentation of all facets of Konkani cultures, traditions across communities,” he said.

The museum also has the potential to become a place of tourist importance in the future and even this will be kept in mind as the project takes shape and is completed, he said. “It will showcase the unique and rare, rich and diverse Konkani culture of Konkani’s belonging to all religions, regions, communities and dialects,” he said adding research will drive the museum’s endeavours.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Mangalore / by Jaideep Shenoy / TNN / April 18th, 2016

Visually documenting heritage buildings

April 18, 2016Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Records, All, Traveladmin

Did you know that Palace Road houses many mansions and buildings that are labelled heritage structures with intrinsic social and historical value?

Architect Naresh V. Narasimhan of Venkataramanan Associates was looking at the stretch on Google Maps, while working on the restoration of NGMA building, and was surprised to see the road extending from Tipu Sultan’s Palace to the Bangalore Palace.

He undertook a survey of the buildings on that road and presented the ‘Palace to Palace’ study for the government to consider declaring the stretch a heritage zone calling it the ‘Swarnavalaya’.

This study prompted photograher PeeVee (Perumal Venkatesan) to photograph some of the structures on the road for documentation.

He focused on nearly 60 to 70 buildings on the stretch for about a month and the result is an INTACH exhibition to mark World Heritage Day, which will showcase nearly 40 photographs.

The exhibition is themed ‘Palace to Palace’, and is showcased along the walls of the State Bank of Mysore on Avenue Road for two weeks.

“The exhibition will highlight some of the buildings along the heritage-dense road. We selected the public road for the showcase as it attracts a large footfall and wanted the show to be accessible to public,” said Meera Iyer, co-convenor, INTACH, Bengaluru.

“Having been through Balabrooie and Carlton House controversies, Mr. Naresh agreed that we should augment the heritage photo library of Bengaluru for a complete photographic documentation of the structures for posterity. That’s the reason when I approached INTACH with my work, they readily agreed for the exhibition,” says PeeVee.

Enjoyed photographing Chetty Hostel: PeeVee

Bengaluru: “I simply enjoyed taking photos of the Chetty Hostel on Avenue Road,” says PeeVee, explaining his observations during his shoot.

The Mohan Building that had housed the Chickpet Police station is now being used for sorting dry waste collected in the area.

The State Bank of Mysore’s old building at KG Road-Avenue Road junction was one of NIMHANS’ work places in the 1960s.

The stately Clock Tower at the Central College installed during British times demanded a stately heritage value.

The nearby Freedom Park that once housed the central jail, the UVCE building and JC Polytechnic also deserve heritage status.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Bengaluru / by Ranjani Govind / Bengaluru – April 18th, 2016

Mysuru Memories …: Y. G. Krishnamurti : An Unsung Hero of Indian Independence

April 16, 2016Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Leaders, Records, Alladmin

1) Y. G. Krishnamurti [17.2.1916 - 19.1.1977] 2) From left : Nehru’s sister Krishna Hutheesing, S. Radhakrishnan, First CJI - Pathanjali Sastry & YGK. — 1) Y. G. Krishnamurti [17.2.1916 – 19.1.1977] 2) From left : Nehru’s sister Krishna Hutheesing, S. Radhakrishnan, First CJI – Pathanjali Sastry & YGK.

by Dr. S. N. Bhagirath and N. Balasubramanya

Another illustrious and unheralded hero of Mysuru city, who deserves to be remembered during the Centenary Year of Mysore University, is Y. G. Krishnamurti (YGK). He was born on 17th February, 1916 at Yelandur to parents Gopala Sastry and Lakshmi Narasamma. After his initial education at Yelandur, the family moved to Mysuru for the higher education of their children. Y. G. Krishnamurti studied B. A. and M. A. (English Literature) at Maharaja’s College from 1934 – 1938. He was a great college debater and a favourite student of Principal J. C. Rollo, S. Srikanta Sastri, B. M. Srikantaiah and A. R. Krishnasastry.

YGK was attracted by Gandhian philosophy. The call for freedom made him come out of the class room and involve himself deeply in the agitation for Independence. He became a student leader, who often led processions, conducted hartals and delivered fiery and revolutionary speeches in Subbarayana Kere along with K. C. Reddy and others. He often got arrested by the Police and got locked up in Mysuru Jail. Once during the exams, when Principal J. C. Rollo noticed that YGK was absent, he went to Mysuru Jail and got him released temporarily, so that he could write his exams. He took YGK in his car straight from the jail to the examination hall.

One evening Prof. B. M. Srikantaiah came to the house of YGK (No. 310, D. Subbaiah Road, Mysurue) to show his Kannada translation of English romantic poems titled “Honganasugalu.” YGK was not at home. Prof. B. M. Srikantaiah sat in front of the house on a bench and waited for his pet student. The family members of YGK invited B. M. Sri inside, but he preferred to wait out. YGK came home at 10 pm and was shocked to find his professor waiting outside. Before sending to the press the manuscripts, B. M. Sri wanted the critical approval of YGK for his translated poems! After graduating from Maharaja’s College, Y. G. Krishnamurti wrote a biography of Mysuru’s Grand-Old-Man Tathaiah — M. Venkatakrishnayya in 1933.

Soon after leaving the University, YGK went to Bengaluru and worked as a Private Secretary of Sir M. Visveswaraiah (MV) for two years on a salary of rupees seventy-five. This invaluable apprenticeship under Sir MV led to his work “Sir M. Visveswaraiah – A Study” (1941) with a foreword by Sir Purushottamdas Thakurdas. During the freedom struggle, YGK (without exaggeration) was very close to Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Patel, S. Radhakrishnan, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and K. M. Munshi. In 1938, the historic Haripur Congress convention took place. Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose won the election against Mahatma Gandhi’s conscience candidate Pattabhi Seetaramaiah. YGK edited “Haripur Congress souvenir” with a special message from Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. YGK was a prolific writer with more than fifty books to his credit. His book “Independent India and a New World Order” (1943) which was earlier mentioned in Star of Mysore on 3.4.2016 had a foreword from S. Srikanta Sastri, which attracted the attention of Joseph Goebbels during Second World War. YGK wrote such works as “Constituent Assembly & Indian Federation” (1940) with a foreword by Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru and introduction by S. Srikanta Sastri and “Indian States and the Federal Plan” (1939) with a foreword by Bulabhai J. Desai. His works on Federalism and separation of powers laid the foundation for Indian Constitution. He also wrote political biographies like “Gandhi Era in World Politics” (1943) with a foreword by Sir S. Radhakrishnan, “Rajendra Prasad – His Personality and Philosophy” (1952) with a foreword by Dr. S. Radhakrishnan, “Jawaharlal Nehru – The Man and his Ideas” (1942) with prefaces by Bulabhai J. Desai and Mrs. Rameshuri Nehru, “Gandhism will survive” (1949) with a foreword by Rameshuri Nehru and “Back to Sanity” (1945) on Gandhism with a preface by Babu Rajendra Prasad.

YGK, after India gained independence, did not seek either political power or any munificence from the Government of India. As a close associate of Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Patel and others, he could have easily become either a Cabinet Minister or an Ambassador. Somehow, YGK, around 1952-53 got disillusioned with the Indian political scenario. He left India and went to Nepal on an invitation from His Highness King Mahendra. He spent rest of his life writing books on Nepal such as, “His Majesty King Mahendra”, “King Mahendra: Poetic Values and Technique”, “The Mahendra Era: Radio Nepal”, “Rani Aishwarya”, “Topography of Nepal”, “Political Ideology of King Mahendra”, “His Majesty King Mahendra Bir Bikram Shah Deva (An Analytical Biography)” and “King Mahendra – The Poet” (1969). For his services to the country of Nepal, he was awarded the highest title accorded to a foreigner – “Gorkha Dakshin Bahu -II” by King Mahendra in 1969.

Y.G. Krishnamurti pursued “Hata Yoga” in Nepal and he had remained a bachelor. On October 23, 1974 in Cochin, Kerala, a total solar eclipse took place. YGK performed a great Hata Yoga feat by sitting in an open ground and gazing at the Sun from the beginning to the end of Solar Eclipse (for a total duration of ninety minutes) and his eyes were apparently not damaged. This yogic feat was certified by Dr. Mathew, an ophthalmologist of Cochin, who examined YGK’s eyes before and after the event. YGK also repeated this feat later at Ankola. In 1969, he wrote a book on Yoga titled “The Great Yogic Sermon.” YGK has donated his library, art collection and manuscripts to a Charitable Trust in Kathmandu. He suffered a massive heart attack at the age of sixty-one on 19th January, 1977 in Kathmandu. His death was reported extensively by Indian newspapers like The Hindu, The Indian Express, Prajavani, Deccan Herald and Sadhvi on 20th January, 1977. A great patriotic son of India died in a foreign land bereft of any homage from friends and relatives. Mysuru city and Yelandur village ought to immortalise this great Kannadiga either by erecting a statue or naming a Circle or Street after YGK. The birth Centenary Year of YGK (2016) coincides with the Centenary Year of University of Mysore.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Feature Articles / April 16th, 2016

Bengaluru gears up for a new vintage car museum

March 28, 2016Amazing Feats, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Records, All, Travel, World Opinionadmin

Car collector Dr Ravi Prakash promises to pull the wraps off over 900 classic beauties

Classic car lovers may soon be spotted wheeling down the state highway more frequently than ever before. Giving the finishing touch to his glossies, doctor-turned-vintage-car-collector Ravi Prakash is almost ready to steer open the doors of a nine lakh square feet property on the fringes of Bengaluru that will house a covetable collection of more than 900 classic cars, together with a range of time-honoured motorbikes and carriages.

Describing it as an ‘auto-history museum’, Dr Ravi says, “More than a treasure trove of vintage automotives, I hope to create an aural-visual and educative experience that every vehicle enthusiast and historian would want to have. The museum will illustrate the evolution of motor vehicles through its exhibits. But more importantly, it will replicate the bygone era, complete with the classic favourites, road networks as well as the people and attire of old times.”

From the Bentleys, Aston Martins and Rolls-Royces to the Mini Coopers, the museum will showcase a diverse collection of glistening steel beauties that could make even the most hard-nosed cynic quiver with excitement. Located on a farmland near Rajarajeshwari Nagar along the Mysore Road, the museum will not just line up the cars in an array. “Expected to be one of the 10 largest vintage car museums in the world, this state-of-the-art venue will promote awareness about old-style vehicles. The property will also comprise an automotive mall, serving as a platform for buyers and sellers,” adds the collector, who himself was a national rallying and racing champion between 1981 and 1984, and is a die-hard fan of the Mercedes Benz classics.

It’s not just this cardiothoracic surgeon who likes to travel back in time. His daughter Rupali also takes interest in old cars. “She is into vintage car merchandising and is quite passionate about it,” sums up Dr Ravi, who dreams to make this museum a major tourist hub in the coming years.

Zooming facts

The museum will be equipped with advanced technology, wherein each car will be displayed under individual sheds.

Among the lot will be a car driven by Motilal Nehru.

Visitors will have access to an enviable collection of 18,000 books and journals on automobiles, apart from other antiques.

Typically, the restoration and modification process for every car takes around six to nine months, while it may also vary between three to four years, depending on the amount of work required on the vehicle.

The restoration of the vehicles is a done by a team of 15 motor experts at a special workshop.

A restaurant featuring car-themed design and decor will be the star attraction of the auto-mall.

A charitable foundation will run the museum, the proceeds of which will be primarily spent for the treatment of road accident victims, while the rest of the money will be used for the acquisition and restoration of cars.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Bangalore / by Reema Gowalla / TNN / March 28th, 2016

Old Student Gathers Forces, Restores 149-year-old School

March 23, 2016Education, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Inspiration/ Positive News and Featuresadmin

Bengaluru :

Government Model Primary Boys School, in Anekal, was started in 1867 by the British. It will turn 150 years next year and should’ve been preserved as a heritage building.

Instead, it was falling to pieces. The floors were cracked and the roof broken. The school lacked basic facilities like chairs and tables, and even toilets.

When Prem Kumari, who was a student here in the early 80s, came back as a teacher in 1994, she was disappointed with the way the school was being maintained.

“For the past 6 years, there had been a sharp fall in the strength of students because of the school’s condition. Since I joined, I have been trying to convince people to save it. Elders of the community and panchayat members wanted to demolish it rather than restore it,” she says.

She approached the B R Sridhar, who was the president of Rotary Bangalore South, and spoke to the other members about the necessity to rennovate this heritage building.

It was adopted by the Club in 2014 and with the help of SABIC, a diversified chemical company, improved its structure and facilities. It has benefited over 218 students in Anekal Taluk, Sarjapura. This is the second school renovated by the club under the Rotary Mission to Teach programme, with SABIC as their CSR partner.

The chemical company’s CSR fund was channelled into the restoration of the school over the last 18 months — replacing the roof, keeping the old design intact; re-plastering the walls; replacing flooring with natural stone flooring; redesigning the courtyard; constructing a separate morning-assembly section; renovation of the kitchen; fixing new gates for the school compound; re-constructing toilets for boys and girls; installing an open-well water pump and purification system for providing drinking water and installation of CCTV security cameras. The refurbished school was inaugurated early this month.

Devendra, a Class 7 student of the school who has been studying there for the past 4 years, says “Earlier our classrooms were bad and there were no toilet facilities either. Now these are better and classes have become interesting with projectors and tablets.”

The student strength is now 200 and but the current infrastructure can serve up to 400 students.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Bengaluru / by Preeja Prasad / March 21st, 2016

Chennabhairadevi, The Pepper Queen of India Who Ruled for 54 Years

March 7, 2016Business & Economy, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Leaders, Records, All, Uncategorized, World Opinionadmin

Front view of Chaturmukha Basadi; (right) Gerusoppa is very close to Jog Falls

Bengaluru :

Stories of kings and queens always attract the young and the old alike. Indian history is abundant with interesting tales of brave queens. In India, where women strive to emulate Sita, and are often docile and meekly submit without resisting , there were valiant women taking up arms against enemies and often succeeded in their attempts. One such brave ruler was Rani Chennabhairadevi, the queen of Gerusoppa, who ruled for 54 years — the longest reign by any Indian woman ruler.

Gerusoppa, situated on the banks of the river Sharavathi in Uttara Kannada, was under the control of the Vijayanagara kings. In the decentralised Vijayanagara empire, various regions were ruled by royal families known as Mahamandaleshwaras. By the early 1550s, Chennabhairadevi, who belonged to the Saluva dynasty, became the queen. As per the inscriptions, her kingdom extended from south of Goa to Uttara Kannada, Dakshina Kannada and Malabar. This region is known not only for harbours like Bhatkala, Honnavar, Mirjan, Ankola and Baindur but also for pepper.

Honnavar and Bhatkala served as internal and international, flourishing trading centres. Arabian horses and weapons were imported from the West. Pepper, betel nut and nutmeg were exported to European and Arab countries. Chennabhairadevi found herself at confrontation with the neighbouring rival kingdoms as well as the Portuguese. The attempts of the Keladi kings and Bilgi chieftains to pull the queen down proved futile.

The queen had to resist the Portuguese who tried to grab the ports and take over the trade. She was at war with the Portuguese in 1559 and again in 1570. She crushed the Portuguese army with her intelligent battle strategy. One of the Portuguese chronicles states that during the war of 1570, the Portuguese attacked Honnavar and burnt it to the ground. After the decline of Vijayanagar, Chennabhairadevi dealt with the Portuguese diplomatically, who nicknamed her ‘Raina de Pimenta’ — the Pepper Queen.

A letter sheds more light on the importance of pepper trade with the Portuguese. Affonso Mexia, the Portuguese Captain of Cochin, writes to the King of Portugal: “Between Baticala and Goa there are certain places called Onor, Mergen and Ancola, from which I hear 5,000 crusados worth of pepper are annually shipped… These places are under the dominion of Queen of Guarcopa… This pepper is larger than that in Cochin, but is lighter and not so hot. It appears to me that we ought to secure…”

Queen Chennabhairadvi was a Jain. The Chaturmukha Basadi of Gerusoppa is attributed to her. She gave grants to Shaiva and Vaishnava temples too. Saraswath Brahmin businessmen and skilled Konkani craftsmen took shelter in her kingdom to escape Portuguese persecution. Jain scholars Akalanka and Bhattakalaka were under the Queen’s patronage. She is credited with building the Mirjan Fort and is believed to have lived there for several years.

The Keladi and Bilgi chiefs adopted ‘Unity is Strength’ formula. Matrimonial alliances brought these two families together. The combined forces of Keladi and Bilgi attacked Gerusoppa, finally defeating the Queen. Gerusoppa came under the control of Keladi. The ageing queen was taken prisoner to Keladi and she breathed her last in prison. If the strategy of unity was adopted against the foreign intruders, India’s history could have been different.

Queen Chennabhairadevi projects herself as a powerful woman, when other women stayed indoors under submission. She was the contemporary of the Queen Elizabeth I of England and succeeded in ruling for the longest period against all odds.

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