Kempe Gowda Jayanti celebrated in Mysuru

The Mysuru district administration and the Department of Kananda and Culture, celebrated Kempe Gowda Jayanti in the city and paid tributes to the historical figure, on Friday.

Chamundeshwari MLA G.T. Deve Gowda described Kempe Gowda as someone whose name will forever be etched in the pages of history for founding the city of Bengaluru, which is now known globally as a technological and industrial hub.

The MLA hailed Kempe Gowda as a person with great foresight as he constructed multiple pavilions suitable to specific areas of the region, apart from tanks to supply drinking water to the residents. Notably, he was responsible for establishing several tanks such as Kempabudikere, Gidde Gowdara Kere, Karanji Kere, Jakkarayanakere, Kempapura Agrahara Kere, and Mavalli Siddapura Kere, etc, he said.

Mr. Deve Gowda also recalled Kempe Gowda’s contribution to construction of temples, and cited the examples of Gavi Gangadhareshwara temple, Basaveshwara temple, Dodda Vighneshwara temple, Hanumantha Devara temple, and Chennigarayaswamy temple in this connection. Highlighting the commercial acumen of Kempe Gowda, the MLA said new markets such as Binnepet, Chikkapet, Balepet, Akkipet, Mamulpet, Ganigarapet, Nagarthapet, etc., came into existence, providing livelihood opportunities and furthering trade.

Kempe Gowda made donations and supported different communities, including the Lingayat, the MLA said.

Chamaraja MLA K. Harish Gowda, who presided over the function, said that Kempe Gowda, known by the honorific name of ‘Nadaprabhu’, established a well-planned city in the form of Bengaluru during the 15th–16th century, and enabled thousands to shape their lives. He also pointed out that all the markets established by Kempe Gowda are still functioning to this day.

Someshwaranatha Swamiji, secretary of the Adichunchanagiri Mutt, said that Kempe Gowda envisioned a system where people from all over the world could live together and mentioned that the youth should be aware about his contribution.

The event was also marked by a ceremony where achievers from various fields were felicitated. Students who topped the SSLC and II PUC exams were awarded the Pratibha Puraskara.

MLCs C.N. Manjegowda and K. Vivekananda, Krishnaraja MLA T.S. Srivatsa, DC G. Lakshmikant Reddy, ZP CEO S. Yukesh Kumar, MCC Commissioner Sheikh Tanveer Asif, Joint Director of Kannada and Culture Department V.N. Mallikarjunaswamy and others were present. Earlier in the day, a procession of folk artists was also taken out through the main roads of the city, en route to the Kalamandira.