Will extend all help for installation of Devaraj Urs statue in city: Prof. K.S. Rangappa

Mysuru:  Former University of Mysore (UoM) and KSOU Vice-Chancellor Prof. K.S. Rangappa has assured of convincing the State Government on the need for installation of a statue of former Chief Minister late D. Devaraj Urs in city.

He was speaking after conferring ‘Dhwani Kotta Dhani’ award to achievers at a programme organised by Arasu Jagruthi Academy, marking the 103rd birth anniversary of D. Devaraj Urs at the Institution of Engineers-India (IEI) premises on JLB Road  here recently.

Promising to take up the statue issue with Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy and former PM H.D. Deve Gowda, if the Arasu Jagruthi Academy submits a representation in this regard, Prof. Rangappa said that Devaraj Urs, who was a native of Mysuru district, was a great leader who lent a voice to marginalised sections.

Arasu Jagruthi Academy Hon. President Dr. M.G.R. Urs, regretted that there was no statue of Devaraj Urs in city.

Pointing out that Urs was instrumental in transforming the State, he urged the State Government to install a statue of Devaraj Urs, who was a native of Kallahalli in Hunsur taluk of Mysuru district.

Former Mysuru Paints and Varnish Limited (MPVL) Chairman H.A. Venkatesh, in his address, said that Devaraj Urs was an unmatched leader of the State, who was widely respected by all sections of the society.

Pointing out that Devaraj Urs led the Congress to victory in the State post Emergency, when the Congress had lost elsewhere in the country, Venkatesh maintained that the 1970s can be termed as Devaraj Urs Era in Karnataka.

Music scholar Dr. R.S. Nandakumar, UoM Computer Science Department Head Prof. G. Hemanth Kumar, NIE College faculty Dr. G. Sarangapani, Ashokapuram Police Inspector Siddaraju, former Co-operation Dept. Officer Nagaraje Urs and High Court advocate Dhanalakshmi were conferred ‘Dhwani Kotta Dhani’ award on the occasion.

Dasti Educational Institutions President Dr. D. Thimmaiah presided. MCCI President A.S. Satish, IEI Mysuru Chapter Chairman M. Chinnaswamy, K. Raghuram, M. Chandrashekar and others were present.