Sir,

Apropos to my article titled “A road on which the King rode on horse-back” in the series, ‘Mysuru, a look at its past’ (SOM dated Apr. 4, 2024), Anil Urs of Bengaluru and Ajeya Urs of Mysuru have brought certain facts to my knowledge, which put the story on correct perspective. I thank both of them.

According to them, the photo (see pic. above) accompanying my article is not that of Chamappaji Urs but his son, Basappaji Urs.

Bakshi Arepur Chamappaji Urs was the guardian of Mummadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar from 1799, till the Maharaja attained 18 years of age.

During the grooming period of Mummadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar, (that is, from 1799 till Maharaja attained 18 years) for want of privacy, both the guardian (Bakshi Arepur Chamappaji Urs) and the young Maharaja (Mummadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar) used to frequent Chamundi Hill on horse-back via the route called bridle path to reach the hilltop as there was no motorable road to Chamundi Hill then.

After Mummadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar’s death, Bakshi Arepur Basappaji Urs became the guardian to the Maharaja Chamaraja Wadiyar X. Basappaji had married Chamaraja Wadiyar’s only sister Jayalakshamanni.

They too used to frequent this road to reach the hilltop. In memory of his favourite uncle and for the services rendered, Maharaja Chamaraja Wadiyar named it “Bakshi Chamappaji Road.”

It was on one such occasion, renowned composer, Mysore Vasudevacharya met Chamaraja Wadiyar and got his support to learn music.

– Gouri Satya, Sr. Journalist, Chamaraja Mohalla, 7.4.2024

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