Who was Kempegowda, whose statue PM Modi unveiled at the Bangalore International Airport
However not many know about the founder of the city who was a visionary in his own right and after whom the airport is named.
Hiriye Kempe Gowda the founder of Bengaluru, was a chieftain under the Vijayanagara Empire, born on June 27, 1510 at Yelahanka, belonging to the Morasu Gowda clan, also called as the Yelahanka Prabhus. He was the fourth in succession after the dynasty’s founder Rana Bhairave Gowda, and son of Kempananje Gowda. His ancestors belonged to Kanchi and had moved to Karnataka in early 15th century to serve under the Vijayanagara Empire then. Though predominantly Kannada speaking, they knew Telugu also.
He got his education in a Gurukula at Aigondapura near Hessaraghata, and soon took over as chieftain in 1531. It’s believed he got the idea of building a huge city, on an expedition to Shivanasamudra with his minister Veeranna and adviser Gidde Gowda.With the permission of the Vijayanagara Emperor Achyutaraya, younger brother of Sri Krishnadeva Raya, he built the Bangalore Fort and the town surrounding it in 1537 AD, and moved his capital from Yelahanka to Bengaluru Pethe.
He built a red fort with 8 gates, and a moat surrounding it. The Fort had two main roads running from North to South and East to West, with other parallel or perpendicular roads to them. This in a way explains the layouts of older parts of Bengaluru. The East-West road ran from Halasuru(Ulsoor) Gate to Sondekappa Road, while the North-South road ran from Yelahanka to the Fort. These roads are currently at Nagarapethe, Chikkapethe, Doddapethe. He also built the famous Gavi Gangadhareshwara Temple, one of the finest rock-cut temples in India, known for it’s stone discs in the forecourt. The temple was built in such a way that it allows the sun rays to fall directly on the shrine at a certain time of year.
The streets were demarcated based on professions, Doddapethe,Chikkapethe, Nagarthapethe were for general markets, and specialed areas like Aralepethe(Cotton), Tharagupethe( Grain), Akkipethe(rice), Ragipethe, Balepethe(Bangles).Similarly you had areas demarcated for Kurubas, Kumbaras, Ganiga, Uppara, and areas like Halasoorpethe, Muthyalapethe for other communities. Skilled artisans and craftsmen were invited to come and settle there.
He also set up Agraharas for Brahmins and priests, the Northern Yelahanka Gate had temples for Anjaneya and Vinayaka, while the Dodda Basavannagudi Temple along with Dodda Vinayaka, Dodda Anjaneya and Veerabhadra Temples were built in the Southern side. He also built the famous Gavi Gangadhareshwara Temple, one of the finest rock-cut temples in India, known for it’s stone discs in the forecourt. The temple was built in such a way that it allows the sun rays to fall directly on the shrine at a certain time of year.
He encouraged the construction of temples, lakes, agraharams around each temple, and Bengaluru transformed from a sleepy village to one of the main cultural, economic centres down South.
Tanks were built to supply water to the town, the moat as well as irrigation of crops. A huge pond was built inside the fort, it’s now located on South Western corner of Krishnarajendra Market. Dharmabuddhi Tank that supplied water to the town, now site of KSRTC Majestic bus stand, Kempambudhi tank named after their family deity, Guttahalli and Sampigambudhi tank (now site of Shree Kanteerava Stadium) were the main ones.
The Vijayanagara Emperor pleased, granted him the nearby villages of Halasooru(Ulsoor), Begur, Varthur, Jigani, Thalagattapura, Kumbalgodu, Kengeri and Banavara. He also improved irrigation facilities.
He also prohibited the custom of amputating last two fingers of the left hand of unmarried women during Bandi Devaru, was a patron of art and learning. He himself wrote Gangagaurivilasa, a Yakshagana play in Telugu.However during his later years he was imprisoned by Vijayanagara Emperor Sadashiva Raya, due to false allegations by another Palegar Jagadevaraya of Channapatna, who feared his rise to power, and was in prison for 5 years.
On release from prison, he was given back all his territories that were confiscated, and he passed away in 1569. His legacy would forever live in the form of the city he founded that would grow into a huge metropolis.
