Mysuru: Very soon, the life-size statues of a Postman and a Policeman on the Race Course Road, in front of KARP Mounted Police Headquarters, will be shifted to conserve the heritage-value figures. The Heritage Area Development Committee has submitted a report to the District Heritage Committee headed by Deputy Commissioner D. Randeep and the Committee has decided to shift the statue.

Speaking to Star of Mysore this morning, DC Randeep said that the decision was taken a week ago when the Heritage Committee met. “The two statues are facing a threat as there is a lot of pressure on the road due to high vehicle density. Moreover, the road will have to be widened. The statues will be shifted within the Mounted Police Headquarters and they will be placed in such a way that the visibility is not obstructed,” the DC said.

“We do not want to take chances as the statues are of great heritage value and they recall the contribution of Postman Basappa and Police Constable Bhujangarao Jagadale,” DC Randeep added.

The statue of the postman is probably the only one in India. The statue has been erected in honour of Postman Basappa or Anche (post) Basappa who was a postman during the reign of Maharaja Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar.

The Maharaja recognised Basappa’s contribution in delivering posts to the doorsteps of people and he installed his statue in 1917. Historians say that Anche Basappa was an athlete who later became a postman. Rain or shine, he used to run to the doorsteps of one house to the other to deliver posts without fail.

In 1917, the Maharaja also installed the statue of Bhujangarao Jagadale, a constable known for his baritone voice while doing the guard of  honour for the Maharaja. The Policeman’s statue was installed close to the statue of the postman.