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