A.V. Road by Prerana B – SKCH

A. V. Road

Road Name: A.V. Road, initially called Albert Victor Road -in the memory of the former Prince is found at the Lalbagh entrance even today) - it was renamed Aluru Venkata Rao Road (after the leader of the Karnataka Ekikarana movement) post-Independence, ensuring that the abbreviation A V remained.

Road Location: Chamrajapet 1st main road

Famous for/ Contributions to society:

Detailed Description:

The birth of Chamarajpet is a watershed moment in the history of Bengaluru for more reasons than one. It all started way back in 1880 when Bengaluru was a prosperous trade and commerce hub with a population of 80,000. Overcrowding and poor sanitary conditions in the old city prompted the Mysore rulers to create new extensions. Chamarajpet was the first such extension formed in 1892.

But it gained prominence as a residential locality only gradually as people were initially hesitant to move away from the city. Five years after Chamarajpet was created, the plague struck the old city and this led to the population of the extension.

The nomenclature of Chamarajpet 1st Main Road is a story in itself.  Initially called Albert Victor Road -in the memory of the former Prince of Wales, who laid the foundation stone for the Lalbagh Glass House in 1888 (the plaque indicating this is found at the Lalbagh entrance even today) -it was renamed Aluru Venkata Rao Road (after the leader of the Karnataka Ekikarana movement) post-Independence, ensuring that the abbreviation A V remained.

Chamarajpet retains its historical charm with landmarks like Tipu Sultan's Summer Palace, the Kannada Sahitya Parishat that was established in 1915 and religious structures like the Kote Venkataramana Temple.

Prince Albert Victor Christian Edward,known to his friends as ‘Eddie’, was born in 1864 to Prince Albert Edward, who was then known as the Prince of Wales and who later became King Edward VII, and Princess Alexandra. Albert Edward was the son of Queen Victoria. Albert married Princess Mary in February 1892. But the young life was cut off in its early prime. The successor to the throne became a victim of the 1889-92 Great Influenza and met a premature death at the age of 28 on January 14, 1892.

Prior to his death, the lamented Prince undertook in October 1889 a seven-month tour of India as his father, the Prince of Wales, had done in 1875. Albert arrived in Bombay then visited Hyderabad and Madras. On 23rd, the royal train passed Bangalore on its way to Mysore and halted at Srirangapatnam for a while.   

Here, he visited the corner where the breach was made in the fort walls and through which the British troops entered into Srirangapatna. Then he visited Tippu’s Summer Palace, Daria Doulat and Mausoleum. After luncheon, the royal party boarded the special train at Paschimavahini.

On November 25 morning, the Maharaja drove Prince Albert to Khedda camp in Chamarajanagar taluk. The Prince had to go on horseback under hot sun the last five miles to the camp where elaborate arrangements had been made.

The royal party left for Bangalore after a few days. Before they proceeded to Travancore, the Prince laid foundation-stone of a permanent building for horticultural shows in Lal Bagh gardens on November 30. The Glass House at the Lal Bagh was built to commemorate Prince Albert's visit to Bangalore. He was given a reception in the garden by Maharaja Chamaraja Wodeyar. In Bangalore, a road in Chamarajapet was christiened in his name.

Alur Venkata Rao who was born at Bijapur in 1880. Alur went to Poona for his college education and obtained his B.A. and Law degree. He started the Karnataka Ithihasa Samshodhana Mandali for doing research on Karnataka history. The result was his monumental work about Karnataka’s glorious history, Karnataka Gathavaibhava published in 1917. We should first develop love towards Kannada and Karnataka and only then we can love India, was his view.

Alur also started the Karnataka unit of Home Rule League and organized a tour for Tilak in various places of north Karnataka. He was arrested during the Civil Disobedience Movement during 1931 and barred from political activities.

He worked as an editor for several magazines. In November 1922, he started Jayakarnataka, a monthly magazine where articles on a variety of subjects and topics were published.

Alur’s joy knew no bounds when Karnataka was unified on 1st November 1956. He personally went to Hampi and performed pooja to goddess Bhuvaneshwari in the Virupaksha temple and was aptly called Karnatakada Kulapurohita (highest priest of Kanada family). He felt sad that the name of Karnataka did not find a place in the list of states mentioned in the national anthem and wrote about its inclusion to the Prime Minister and President of India. Fully devoted to the Karnataka and Kannada, Alur breathed his last on 24th February 1964.

Although locals and several establishments in the area have adopted the new name, official BBMP records still refer to the road as Albert Victor Road. "Irrespective of what the name means, people just call it AV Road," said Suresh Moona,a well know historian, adding that re-renaming the road at this juncture would only lead to unwarranted confusion for the administration and disappointment for the people. A proposal submitted by the city corporation council to rename AV Roads as Tipu Sultan Palace Road was recently met with opposition by a BJP-led delegation. A greater controversy threatened to break out when the corporation claimed that AV Road was officially registered as Albert Victor Road, and nowhere in government or postal records is Alur Venkat Rao Road mentioned. 

Contributed by: B.Prerana, 9-D, Sri Kumaran Children’s Home CBSE

References:

http://karnatakahistory.blogspot.in/2012/03/alur-venkata-rao-high-priest-of.html

http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2015-04-02/news/60756299_1_chamarajpet-old-city-bengaluru

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aluru_Venkata_Rao

http://www.bangaloremirror.com/bangalore/others/It-is-Albert-Victor-Rd-not-Alur-or-Tipu-says-BBMP-administrator/articleshow/47506084.cms

 

K.S. Thimmaiah Road by Pranav Shikarpur – SKCH

Thimmaiah Road

 

Road name: K.S.Thimmaiah road named after General Kodandera Subayya Thimayya (March 30, 1906 - December 18, 1965)

Road Location: It has many landmarks such as Bangalore football stadium, Bishop Cotton’s Boys school, etc. It is close to Mother Teresa road, UB city, Brigade road, Hosur road, etc.

Famous for/ Contributions to society: K.S.Thimayya was a distinguished soldier of the Indian Army who served as Chief of Army Staff from 1957 to 1961 in the crucial years leading up to the conflict with China in 1962.

Summary:

K.S.Thimayya served in the Indian Army. Genral. Thimayya was the only Indian to command an Infantry brigade in battle during the Second World War and is regarded as the most distinguished combat officer the Indian Army has produced. After the Korean War, Thimayya headed a United Nations unit dealing with the repatriation of prisoners of war. After his retirement from the Army, he was appointed Commander of the United Nations Peace Keeping Force in Cyprus from July 1964 to December 1965 and died in Cyprus while on active duty on 18th Dec 1965. He also helped during the partition of India.

Detailed Description:

Family and Childhood:

Thimayya was born in Madikeri, the district town of Kodagu (also known as Coorg), Karnataka, on 30 March 1906 as the son of a wealthy planter. On his father's side, he belonged to the Kodendera clan to which India's first commander-in-chief Cariappa also belonged. His mother Cheppudi Chittauwa was from the Cheppudira family. His wife Mrs Nina Thimayya was a recipient of the Kesar-e-hind for her philanthropic contribution during the Quetta Earthquake of 1935. His maternal uncle C.B. Ponnappa was in first batch of commissioned Indian officers from the Indore defence school and a batch mate of Cariappa. Desiring that he receive a good education, he was sent at the age of eight years to St Joseph's College in Coonoor a convent run by Irish brothers. Later, Thimayya was sent to Bishop Cotton Boys' School in Bangalore. After completing school, Thimayya was sent to the Prince of Wales Royal Indian Military College, a necessary stepping stone for a commission in the Indian Army. His elder brother Ponappa (later joined INA) as well as younger brother Somayya (died in a mine accident in 1947-48 Kashmir operations) joined Indian army. Following his graduation from RIMC, "Timmy", as he was affectionately known, was one of only six Indian cadets selected for further training at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst. He was commissioned into the Indian Army in 1926.

Early life:

After completing his training, he was commissioned into the Army in 1926 as a Second Lieutenant and was attached to the Highland Light Infantry as was the norm then, prior to a permanent posting with a regiment of the British Indian Army. He was soon posted to the 4th Battalion of the 19th Hyderabad Regiment (now Kumaon Regiment) and was promoted to Lieutenant in 1928.

Appointed the regimental adjutant in September 1930, Thimayya honed his soldiering skills on that famous training ground in the Northwest Frontier (present-day Pakistan), battling recalcitrant Pathan tribals. In January 1935, Thimayya married Nina Cariappa (no relation to K M Cariappa), and was promoted to Captain the following month. On 20 March 1936, they had a daughter, Mireille. The same April, Thimayya was posted as an Adjutant at the University Training Corps in Madras, as a fitting example for young Indian undergraduates interested in joining the Indian Army, of what a good soldier should be.

Role in independence:

He returned to India in 1947, during the Partition, as member of the committee to agree to the allotment of weapons, equipment and regiments that were to remain in India, or to be allotted to Pakistan. Soon after the commission was completed, he was promoted to the rank of Major-General in September 1947 and was then assigned the command of the 4th Infantry Division and also to take over the Punjab Boundary Force, dealing with the exodus and intake of refugees fleeing to their respective countries. In 1948 he was one of the active officers in the actions against the forces of Pakistan in the conflict over Kashmir. His next appointment was command of the 19th Infantry Division in Jammu & Kashmir where he succeeded in driving the raiders and the Pakistan Army out of the Kashmir Valley. Personally leading the attack in the forward-most tank, the surprise attack on Zoji La on 1 November 1948 by a brigade with Stuart Light Tanks of the 7th Light Cavalry, succeeded in driving out the entrenched raiders and Pakistan Army regulars and the eventual capture of Dras, Kargil and Leh. He established the best of relations with Sheikh Abdullah and Bakshi Ghulam Mohammad and even Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, but his pleas to give him three more months to drive the raiders back to Muzaffarabad fell on deaf ears and instead, Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru went to the United Nations.

Thereafter, Thimayya served as the Commandant of the prestigious Indian Military Academy, Dehra Dun. The experience gained by him in Japan stood him in good stead when he was specially selected by the United Nations to head the Neutral Nations Repatriation Commission in Korea. It was a very sensitive and delicate task dealing with unruly Chinese and Korean prisoners. Here again, through sheer charisma, impartiality, firmness and diplomacy, he completed this task to the satisfaction of the world body. He returned to India and was promoted to General Officer Commanding, Southern Command, with the rank of Lieutenant-General, in January 1953. In 1954, he was awarded the Padma Bhushan for Civil Service. He took over the reins of the Indian Army on 7 May 1957.

Contributed by: Pranav Shikarpur, 9-B, Sri Kumaran Children’s Home CBSE

Bibliography:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kodandera_Subayya_Thimayya

J.C. Road by Shreesh and Shreyas – SKCH

J.C Road

Road Name: J.C. Road named after Jayachamarajendra Wodeyar (18^th July 1919 - 23^rd September 1974)

Road Location: J.C Road is located in Kalasipalyam area of the city. It is connected to Kasturba Road to the north. The road houses many important landmarks of the city such as the BBMP Head Office, Bangalore Town Hall and Ravindra Kalakshetra. It also lies in close proximity to the famous Lal Bagh Botanical Gardens.

Famous for/ Contributions to society:

Summary:

The Wodeyar dynasty ruled the Kingdom of Mysuru from 1399 to 1947, the last king being Jayachamarajendra Wodeyar. Jayachamaraja Wodeyar, popularly known as Jayachamaraja Wodeyar Bahadur was the 25th ruler or Maharaja of the princely state of Mysore. He was the last Maharaja who ruled the territory from the year 1940 to 1950. The Maharaja successfully completed his graduation in 1938 from the Maharajas College in Mysore. He was honoured with 5 awards and gold medals. Jayachamaraja was also a renowned philanthropist, political theorist, musicologist and a reputed philosopher.

Detailed Description:

Jaya Chamarajendra Wadiyar was the only son of Yuvaraja Kanteerava Narasimharaja Wadiyar and Yuvarani Kempu Cheluvaja Amanni. Wodiyar dynasty is the only Royal family from Mysore. Jayachamaraja Wodeyar wrote several literary works such as, The Quest for Peace: An Indian Approach, The Way and The Goal, The Gita and Indian Culture, Religion and Man etc.  Jayachamaraja also funded the translation of various classics from Sanskrit to Kannada which were included in the Jayachamaraja Grantha Ratna Mala. The thing that inspired the king to get into composing was a confluence of several qualities in him were his incomparable devotion, his special love for Sanskrit, knowledge of Tantrashastra, Mantrashastra, a keen interest in subjects of Vedanta, extensive competency in music, and an attitude of service without recompense.

He signed the Instrument of Accession with the Dominion of India on the eve of India attaining Independence in August 1947. The princely state of Mysore was merged with the Republic of India on 26 January 1950. He held the position of Rajpramukh of the State of Mysore from 26 January 1950 to 1 November 1956. After the integration of the neighbouring Kannada-majority parts of the States of Madras and Hyderabad, he became the first Governor of the reorganized or unified State of Mysore from 1 November 1956 to 4 May 1964 and was also the Governor of the State of Madras from 4 May 1964 to 28 June 1966. Jayachamaraja Wodeyar, is said to have composed 94 kritis in Sanskrit based on the style of Muthuswami Dikshitar.

While not on specific shrines, some songs have references to Kanchipuram, Tiruvannamalai, Madurai, Shringeri, Gajaranyam, and so on. All his kritis incorporate several doctrines from Sri Vidya, Sri Chakra, and Mantra Shastra. The maharaja used the phrase "Sri Vidya" as his vaggeyakara mudra in most of his compositions. He has composed all his kritis in Sanskrit. The lyrics or text of his compositions are in praise of Hindu deities and do not address social issues or reforms. He held the position of Rajpramukh of the State of Mysore from 26 January 1950 to 1 November 1956. After the integration of the neighbouring Kannada-majority parts of the States of Madras and Hyderabad, he became the first Governor of the reorganized or unified State of Mysore. A special mention must be made of the multi-faceted personality of Jayachamaraja Wodeyar whose extraordinary potential found its expression and consummation in making him an able administrator, diligent diplomat, spirited sportsman, class-composer, philosopher, devotee, scholar, author and with all this a humble human. He was a great soul, having an abiding faith in goodness and humanity.

Contributed by: Shreesh Shrinivas and Shreyas Shrinivas, 8-F, Sri Kumaran Children’s Home CBSE

References:

1.      http://www.indiatvnews.com/news/india/10-facts-to-know-about-king-of-mysuru-yaduveer-wodeyar-51050.html

2.      http://www.indianetzone.com/59/jayachamaraja_wodeyar.htm

3.      http://www.rasikas.org/forums/viewtopic.php?t=109&start=1250#p186235

4.      http://radioweb.in/programs/jayachamaraja-wodeyar-2

5.      http://chiloka.com/celebrity/jayachamarajendra-wodeyar

6.      http://tssathyavathi.blogspot.in/2012/03/jayachamarajendra-wodeyar-royal.html