Mysore/Mysuru: In a momentous gesture, the alumni from the 1962 batch have initiated the installation of a statue of the visionary Maharaja Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar at Mysore Medical College and Research Institute (MMC&RI). This esteemed institution is set to celebrate its centenary in 2024. The ground-breaking ceremony for statue installation was conducted yesterday.

Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar, whose far-sightedness led to the establishment of this venerable medical college, has left an indelible mark. MMC&RI, one of the oldest medical colleges in India, was founded in 1924 under his visionary leadership.

The ceremony took place in a park situated between the MMC&RI’s two main gates. The statue is being carved in Kolar, and the event was attended by Dr. K.R. Dakshayani, Dean and Director of MMC&RI, along with alumni from the 1962 batch, including Dr. V. Lakshminarayana, Dr. Uday Shankar, Dr. Dinesh, Dr. C.D. Sreenivasa Murthy and Dr. C.G. Narasimhan.

The statue itself is a monolith, crafted from ‘Krishna Shile,’ standing at an impressive height of seven to eight feet, supported by a half-foot base plate. Elevated on a 3.5-foot high monolithic platform, it features a granite-clad design with four faces.

The inscriptions to be engraved on its sides will bear the name and life dates of Krishnaraja Wadiyar, his honorary title “Rajarishi” in English, a Kannada translation of this title and a dedication from the 1962 batch students expressing gratitude  to their alma mater MMC&RI.

The statue has been carved in Shivarapatna, Kolar, and is now in the final stages of completion. It is expected to be brought to Mysuru and officially installed in November this year, commemorating the legacy of Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar within the hallowed halls of MMC&RI.