He doesn’t need lip-service

As a chieftain who defined the way a city emerged and grew, Kempe Gowda would probably be proud of the way Bengaluru has become a global hub today.

Kempe Gowda is considered a visionary — and even centuries later, he has a strong fan base.  “He is the founder of the city and naturally the desire to etch his name is apparent,” reasons Dr Jamuna M, history professor at Bangalore University, who says Kempe Gowda’s presence “hovers over the city like a friendly angel”.

Kempe Gowda developed Bangalore scientifically, as many researchers and historians have pointed out.

The classic example is the old market area that was constituted of 64 different markets, all earmarked for a specific commodity, points out Radhakrishna KV, joint secretary, Uday Bhanu Kala Sangh. From Akkipet (rice market), Cottonpet (for cotton), Balepet (for bangles) and Ragipet (for ragi) to  Kumbarpet (for pottery), the deliberate design is evident. “The market was surrounded by agricultural fields and it was designed in a manner that farmers could sell their produce,” he says, adding, “Kempegowda Layout was an agricultural field.”

As the city expanded, the fields drifted further away. But, Radhakrishna says, “The eight gates that served as entry and exit points to the market were designed to ensure the security of the market area.”

“Bangalore was the best planned city of that time,” says Dr SK Aruni, deputy director, Indian Council for Historical Research (ICHR). Aruni points out that the city was divided into two units: one for the civilians in the area now referred to as old Bangalore (Chikpet, Doddapet etc), which was inhabited by the elite, and then the fort area or citadel (the present-day Fort area) meant for royalty.

Invariably, the references lead to the famous gates — eight in all. While the structures have all but disappeared, the names remain. Some of them are Yelahanka Gate (near Mysore Bank Circle, where there is a famous Hanuman temple), Mysore Gate in Chamrajpet (where KIMS Hospital stands) and Delhi Gate (in the Fort area). Two gates — Kengeri and Halasoor — have in place police stations that bear the same names as that of the old gates.

While many feel that naming a road or institute after a great personality is a mark of respect, Radhakrishna has an alternate view point. According to him, “Kempe Gowda undoubtedly was a great visionary; however, in this rush to name everything after him from roads to the new airport are we forgetting the ethos he prescribed?”

Referring to the proposal to name the city’s international airport after Kempe Gowda, Radhakrishna asks if the city’s founder, who had strong agrarian sympathies, would have endorsed the land acquisition for the new airport.

“It would be ironical to name the new airport after him, because many farmers lost their lands to it. They got compensation but today they are jobless. Kempe Gowda had a vision — not just for trade but also for farmers.”