Mysuru: Chamaraja MLA K. Harishgowda has urged the Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, to build Kempegowda Bhavan in every hobli of the State. 

Presiding over 517th Kempegowda Jayanti celebrations, organised by the District Administration in association with Kannada and Culture Department, Mysuru City Corporation (MCC) and Kempegowda Jayantotsava Samiti, at Kalamandira in city yesterday. 

Harishgowda said, the Vokkaliga MLAs have already submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister, over building Kempegowda Bhavan at every hobli level, to which the latter has responded positively. A Government Order in this regard is expected soon, he added. 

The vokkaligas dominate rural populace, but those who are financially backward are finding it difficult to organise family functions including marriages, due to lack of space, said Harishgowda, explaining the reason behind the demand for building Kempegowda Bhavan, on the lines of other communities like; Valmiki Bhavan for Nayakas, Kanaka Bhavan for Kurubas, Veerashaiva Bhavan for Lingayats, Ambedkar Bhavan and Dr. Babu Jagjivan Ram Bhavan for dalits. 

Adichunchanagiri Mysuru branch Mutt Seer Sri Somanatha Swamiji said, Kempegowda, who had a farsighted vision, built Watch Towers at all the four corners of Bangalore. As anticipated, Bangalore grew beyond those borders, thus realising what Kempegowda had visualised long ago. 

Prof. Vasu Boregowda from Government PU College, Kuvempunagar, narrating the history of Nadaprabhu Kempegowda, said, he was a brave soldier and a benevolent ruler, who was a pioneer in urban planning.   

“Kempegowda, who was a feudal of Vijayanagar empire, built Bangalore (now Bengaluru) in a well-planned manner. The city emerged as a prominent commercial hub, with dedicated petes (Markets) built for various occupations. Chikkapete, Doddapete, Akkipete, Balepete and Taragupete, which continue to exist in the city, stand testimony to Kempegowda’s farsighted vision.  

Over 36 achievers from different fields were felicitated at the event, along with Prathiba Puraskara to 450 students who had excelled in recent SSLC and second PUC exams. 

MLCs D. Thimmaiah and R. Raghu Kautilya, former MLA L. Nagendra, Chairman of Karnataka State Bhovi Development Corporation Ramappa, Deputy Commissioner G. Lakshmikanth Reddy, Joint Director of Kannada and Culture Department V.N. Mallikarjun Swamy, Assistant Director Dr. D. Sudarshan, Mysuru District Vokkaliga Association President Mariswamy Gowda, Chetan, Manjegowda, Boregowda and President of Kempegowda Jayantotsava Samiti Prashanth Gowda were felicitated on the occasion.