Mysore/Mysuru: At the junction of Shivaji Road, N.R. Mohalla and Mysuru-Bengaluru Main Road, there is a beautiful fountain of nearly a century old. The artistically designed fountain is one of the oldest fountains in Mysuru and is of historic importance too. It is named the ‘Elgin Fountain’.
Since about a month, a shrub (plant) is seen growing luxuriously at its foot (see picture) which, if allowed to grow, may damage and even destroy the very foundation of that fountain.
Those responsible to maintain this heritage fountain may please pay attention to it and remove the plant, says one of the ardent readers of Star of Mysore.
Initially erected at the present K.R. Circle (near Lansdowne building), it was called the ‘Elgin Fountain’ in honour of the visit of Lord Elgin, the Viceroy, to Mysore on November 20, 1895. The fountain was shifted from there (K.R. Circle) to the Dhanvanthri Road Circle where Dewan’s Road meets after the statue of Krishnaraja Wadiyar IV was installed there by the Mysuru City Corporation.
Following relocating of the fountain, the Circle at the junction of Dhanvanthri Road and Dewan’s Road came to be known as the ‘Fountain Circle.’
But, the fountain was again shifted from there to the present place on the Bengaluru-Mysuru Road, at the approach to Mysuru City, and the Circle was named ‘Rajendra Prasad Circle’ to mark the maiden visit of Dr. Rajendra Prasad, the first President of India, by the MCC by passing a resolution.
Lansdowne building, Elgin Fountain, and Dufferin clock tower, all repersent the heritage of British Rule in India and the Supremacy of Viceroy of the day over Wadiyars.
Viceroy of the day was the boss of the Wadiyar of the day, and whenever the boss-the Viceroy visited Mysore, to check on Wadiyar, he was showered with gifts and held in such reverence that a memorial was created for his visit. The above Lansdowne Building, Elgin Fountain and Dufferin Clock Tower were those memorials. By preserving and renovating them, it is the heritage of Viceroys rule of India that is immortalised, and underline the subservient role of Wadiyars at the same time!
It is high time we get rid of theses unnecessary so called monument/ heritage (subservient) sites. Let us come out of Moghul & Brit slavery….build our Indian narrative. Enough is ENOUGH.
Remove it at the earliest or that will be considered to be a temple…… And the above person tell to remove all historical monuments so if you remove it you will have nothing left good in India then….