Mysore, June 4, 2013:
Enarada News Network (ENN)
The 129th birth anniversary of Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar – reckoned to be the architect of modern Mysore – was celebrated across the city with number of programmes here today.
“The erstwhile ruler of Mysore, Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar, who launched many development programmes during his regime which are relevant even today, was a Vishwamanava who was a visionary,” said MP H. Vishwanath here this morning.
Speaking on the occasion s of Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar organised by Ursu Mandali at its premises on Thyagaraja road in city, Vishwanath said that many development projects like K.R. Hospital, Maharaja’s, Maharani’s and Yuvaraja’s Colleges and reservoirs like KRS launched by the former ruler of Mysore kingdom reflected his far-sightedness.
Pointing out that the launch of State Bank of Mysore by Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar is a gift to the nation, Vishwanath said that Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar had exhibited that he had love for people of all communities by nominating Sir Mirza Ismail as Dewan of Mysore and ensured that Dewan Poornaiah enjoyed equal powers in the Mysore Royal Court.
Narrating about the administrative capacities of the former ruler, Vishwanath said that Krishnaraja Wadiyar always discharged his duties in the ambit of social justice where women, people of backward communities and others were treated with respect.
Police Commissioner K.L. Sudheer, speaking on the occasion, lauded the efforts of Wadiyar who developed Mysore as a model city even before India became independent.
A colourful procession with a portrait of Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar placed on a flower-decked sarot and accompanied by various cultural troupes and bandsets was taken out from Ursu Mandali building to K.R.Circle on the occasion.
Meanwhile, hundreds of activists of Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha (KRRS) and Bahujana Samajwadi Party (BSP) staged a protest in front of the statue of Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar at K.R. Circle alleging that the District Administration and the Government had neglected the birth anniversary of the great reformer like Nalwadi.
The protestors also alleged that the District Administration, which celebrated birth anniversaries of various luminaries in a grand manner, had shown disrespect to the former king by not celebrating his birth anniversary in a befitting manner.
There have been persistent demands from members of the backward classes to recognise the contribution of the king during whose regime the Miller Commission was constituted in 1919. Krishnaraja Wadiyar introduced reservation for members of backward castes in government service.
It was during his regime , which commenced in 1902, that the foundation for modern Mysore was laid. His regime saw the completion of the Krishna Raja Sagar (KRS) reservoir which is a lifeline for the people of the region. His regime saw a slew of welfare measures such as the setting up of iron and steel works at Shimoga, sandalwood factory at Mysore, the government soap factory at Bangalore, founding of the Mysore University and the Kannada Sahitya Parishat among others. The country’s first town planning department – City Improvement Trust Board – was established in Mysore in 1903 with the objective of ensuring planned development of the city.
The expansion of railways also received an impetus during his regime. Mahatma Gandhi described Krishnaraja Wadiyar as a ‘Raja Rishi’ while Mysore came to be known as a model city. However, the king never got the recognition due to him. Even the State government’s promise to establish a State-level award in honour of the Maharaja is yet to materialize.
