By Gouri Satya, Sr. Journalist

In over five decades of service as a journalist, donning a double role as the Editor of ‘Samachar’ and reporter of a few State and National Dailies, I had several experiences, many of which continue to be fresh in my memory. One such experience was significant and is worth recalling.

It was the Emergency period. Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had declared an Emergency all over the country. Many National, State-level and even local-level leaders had been taken into custody. At that time, D. Devaraj Urs was at the helm of affairs in the State. He had joined the Congress party in 1952, based on his strong political-ideological convictions.

As Chief Minister, he had given a new direction to the State, adopting progressive policies that brought him respect and admiration from all sections of the society. He initiated many programmes and policies bearing in mind the welfare of the people and the State, particularly those from the weaker sections.

When the Congress split into the Nijalingappa faction and Indira Gandhi faction in 1969, Devaraj Urs strongly supported Indira Gandhi and helped in the task of consolidation of the Indira Congress in the State. He enabled her to win all 27 seats in the 1972 Lok Sabha elections from the State and commanded respect. With his policies and dynamism, he had emerged as an alternative leader for his partymen. Indira Gandhi was aware of his abilities and appreciated his work both within the party and the State.

When Indira Gandhi imposed an Emergency in the country on June 25, 1975, he was unhappy. He was reluctant to follow her diktat and arrest many prominent leaders in the State. He was even critical of the imposition of Emergency and abuse of political power by her henchmen. Naturally, Indira Gandhi was not happy with Urs’ stance. Political differences began to crop up between the two leaders.

It was at this time that Indira Gandhi visited Mysuru. She stayed overnight at the Government House. The next day, when she woke up to take the flight back to Delhi, she was looking fresh and relaxed.

The early morning rain had made the atmosphere pleasant and pleasing. The air was refreshingly cool with the smell of the rain spread all around. Prominent Congress party leaders led by Chief Minister Devaraj Urs and senior officials were waiting to bid farewell to the Prime Minister at the helipad.

Those were the days when security was less tight than we see today. Access even to a Minister or a Legislator is difficult today. However, during my days, the scenario was different. One could have easy access to any leader without security checks and restrictions.

On that day morning, we were about 20 waiting for the Prime Minister, conversing with top Police officers and a few leaders who included the Chief Minister, his Ministerial colleagues and party leaders. There were not many of them and it was a small crowd. A refreshed Prime Minister came out of her car and began to walk towards the helicopter. We observed there was very little bonhomie between Urs and Indira Gandhi. Both were cold to each other, considering their political closeness. There were no whispers or a brief tete-e-tete as generally took place on such occasions.

The Prime Minister was walking past the pressmen. Trying to draw her attention, I asked her, “How was your stay, Madam.”

Indira Gandhi turned back and stood looking at the small group of pressmen. Having heard my question, she came a little closer to me and responding to my ‘Namaste’ with folded hands, she said, “It was pleasant. Mysuru is a beautiful city.”

Her next few words were loaded with significant meaning. It indicated the increasing differences between herself and Devaraj Urs, who was standing close to her.

“Ask your Chief Minister to invite me often,” she said, walking towards the copter.

Her last sentence revealed enough for a good copy as we say in journalistic language. There were already rumours about the political differences cropping up between the two leaders. Her reply further confirmed the rumours and gave us a good copy to write about.

The rest was history as they say. Political developments that followed brought about significant changes in the politics of the country. Devaraj Urs was expelled from the party. He was defeated in the election held thereafter in 1980 and R. Gundu Rao became the Chief Minister.

Two years later Devaraj Urs, who had emerged on the national scene as a dynamic leader and provided a new image to the State with his policies and programmes, including naming the State as ‘Karnataka,’ passed away, ditched by his close political associates, mental agonies and sickness hastening his end. It was the sad end   of a stalwart.

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Veteran Journalist Gouri Satya, pro-Kannada activists Ramegowda, Mugur Nanjundaswamy, Mahadevaswamy, Nagesh, social worker Raghuram Vajpayee, S. Guru and Dr. Pradeep were conferred with V.K. Gokak Awards at a programme organised by Mysuru Kannada Vedike at Freedom Fighters Park, Subbarayanakere, in city recently. MLC C.N. Manjegowda, Vedike President Naala Beedhi Ravi, Kaveramma, Gurubasappa, Palace Babu, Gopi and others were present.

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Mysore/Mysuru:  A book titled ‘Gouriya Nantu E Manetanakke’ in Kannada, authored by senior journalist Gouri Satya, was released by Nadoja Prof. T.V. Venkatachala Sastry and noted scholar Dr. N.S. Taranath at S.P. Bhat Hall of Institution of Engineers-India (IEI), JLB Road in the city on Saturday.

Sharing his views on the book, Dr. Taranath said, “Gouri Satya has narrated the association between his family and Mysore Palace (royal family) centring around Gouri festival, which was little known to others, in a intriguing manner. The book comprises 13 chapters and the first six of the chapters are dedicated to the topic of the book, especially about how Urs community celebrates the festival. Prior to Gouri Puja, Bale Malara Puja will be conducted and the rituals are followed, which are all narrated with details in this book.”

Idol of Gouri was consecrated at the house of the author, from where it was being taken out in a procession to the Palace, which was also a grandiose event of those times akin to Dasara procession. The author remains faithful to the topic with substantiating evidences about his family’s several decades long role in conducting Gouri festival. If one pores over the contents of the book, no wonder if they have a feeling of watching a documentary, lauded Dr. Taranath.

“During 1930, the then king Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar had gone on a foreign tour, during the time of which Gouri festival was celebrated at Bangalore Palace. A letter of Archives Department holds credence to this fact. While in the year 1936, the festival was celebrated at all the wings of the Palace, which also has been succinctly narrated by the author. As one is deeply engrossed in reading this book, they may also see a researcher in the author,” said Dr. Taranath.

In the first half of the book, the author provides information about Gouri festival, the later half is about his family’s history, digging deep into his family roots. By humbly remembering the ancestors, the author has documented all with clarity.

Gouri Satya’s father G.L. Swamy was the Founder of ‘Samachar,’ a first of its kind English Daily of Mysore, which was in circulation for 50 long years. Earlier to this, he was running ‘Mysore Municipal Journal’ on the lines of ‘Calcutta Municipal Journal’, with the coverage of news related to Municipality meetings every month. It was priced at one anna. Swamy also holds the credit of starting tourism-related activities not just in Mysore but across Karnataka. His elder brother Ramakrishna was the Director of Tourism Department in New Delhi. It was during the same time, he (Swamy) had started ‘Tourist Service Bureau’ and ‘Tourist Bureau’ at the first floor of Lansdowne building. After World War, taluk handbooks were brought out to take British soldiers on tour to different taluks in 1944. He also introduced ‘Tourist Guide’ which drew the attention of Dr. Sir M. Visvesvaraya and Mirza Ismail, who lauded the efforts behind and issued a free train pass to Swamy, to travel around Mysore province to collect the information.

 Prof. T.V. Venkatachala Sastry, who also spoke, said: “When I started to write about Mulukanadu community, I had contacted several persons to glean information. I explored the new world by reading autobiographies, life story and also through interaction and contacts. I also understood that, whatever we are today, it is all due to the achievements and efforts of our ancestors, without whom we wouldn’t have existed.”

“It was at the insistence of Prof. Venkatachala Sastry and Dr. Taranath that I could trace my family history,” said author Gouri Satya. “To be frank, I was not aware of even my grandfather’s name, about which I learnt when I started to dig deep into the information and many helped in this course. I had documented them all in writing and was able to collect information related to my father’s family. But I didn’t have any information about my mother’s family. As I started, my maternal uncle was kind enough to provide whatever records he had in his possession. Using those records, I was able to write about my mother. The research spanned 25 years. I wrote this book on the basis of ’Mulukanadu Brahmanaru’ authored by  Prof. T.V. Venkatachala Sastry and have the utmost satisfaction about the book hitting the stands,” he added.

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Mysore/Mysuru: Senior Journalist of the city Gouri Satya and Chairman of Nypunya School of Excellence Raghu Kautilya were among the 18 personalities who were conferred with the prestigious Hoysala Award at a programme organised under the aegis of Hoysala Kannada Sangha and Savigannada Patrika Balaga at Veene Seshanna Bhavan on Adichunchanagiri road in Kuvempunagar here yesterday.

Speaking at the programme, senior Linguistic scholar Nadoja Dr. T.V. Venkatachala Sastry regretted the number of those who get awards by applying for them and using influence is on the rise.

Observing that getting an award after applying for it is itself an insult, he opined that this practice will only discredit the award.

Stressing on the need for selecting the awardees based on achievements in their chosen field and merit, Dr. Sastry  said that there are many personalities amongst us who failed to get noticed for all the work that they have done. An organisation should only consider the excellent work of personalities while making selection for the award, he added.

Senior Poetess Dr. Latha Rajashekar, who spoke after inaugurating the programme, said that Kannada is a golden language which is rich in meaning and words. But Kannada should also become a language of food (anna), she said.

Noting that  there is an urgent need for making Kannada compulsory for all persons living in Karnataka, she said Kannada should become the only administrative language of the State in the real sense.

Suyog Hospital Chairman Dr. S.P. Yoganna, in his address, said that the Kannadisation of medical field, which was hitherto dominated by English language, has indeed begun, which is a welcome sign.

Pointing out that more than 2,000 medical books are now available in Kannada, he said that Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS) has translated more than 50,000 medical terms into Kannada. The University of Mysore too has brought out a Kannada Medical Encyclopedia, he said adding that it is a good sign that efforts are going on to popularise Kannada in medical terminology.

The awardees are: Dr. D.K. Rajendra (Folklore and Literature), G. Sathyanarayana aka Gouri Satya (Journalism), Vedabrahma Mysuru Kumar (Spirituality and Astrology), Raghu Kautilya (Education and Administration), Dr. Annaiah Kulal (Medical, Literature and Organisation), Dr. C.G. Prahladrao (Medical), Shivabasappa Horeyala (Administration, Literature and Theatre), Kuvempu Prakash (Organisation and Vocal), Ashok Kumar Mehandale (Small Stories, Novels), Dr. Prashanth (Photography and Research), Prof. Lakshmidevi Narayan (Education and Literature), Dr. Ahalya (Medical and Administration), Sharada Shivalingaswamy (Rotary Service and Organisation), Dr. M.S. Vijaya Haran (Akashavani and Literature), Dr. J.V. Gayathri (History and Archives), Dr. Pratibha Pereira (Medical), Vidushi Anita (Bharatanatyam) and Saptarshi Souharda Credit Co-operative Society.

Vangipura Mutt Seer Ilai Alwar Swamiji graced the occasion. Senior Linguistic scholar Dr. N.S. Taranath, District Kannada Sahitya Parishat President Maddikere Gopal, former MUDA Chairman H.V. Rajeev, Savigannada editor Ranganath Mysore, artist Dr. Jamuna Rani Mirle and others were present.

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Mysore/Mysuru: Senior Journalist and Star of Mysore columnist Gouri Satya is among the 18 achievers from different fields selected for the prestigious Hoysala Award given by the city’s Hoysala Kannada Sangha and Savigannada Patrika Balaga.

The awardees are: Dr. D.K. Rajendra (Folklore and Literature), G. Sathyanarayana aka Gouri Satya (Journalism), Vedabrahma Mysuru Kumar (Spirituality and Astrology), former KEA Chairman  Raghu Kautilya (Education and Administration), Dr. Annaiah Kulal (Medical, Literature and Organisation), Dr. C.G. Prahladrao (Medical), Shivabasappa Horeyala (Administration, Literature and Theatre), Kuvempu Prakash (Organisation and Vocal), Ashok Kumar Mehandale (Small Stories, Novels), Dr. Prashanth (Photography and Research), Prof. Lakshmidevi Narayan (Education and Literature), Dr. Ahalya (Medical and Administration), Sharada Shivalingaswamy (Rotary Service and Organisation), Dr. M.S. Vijaya Haran (Akashavani and Literature), Dr. J.V. Gayathri (History and Archives), Dr. Pratibha Pereira (Medical), Vidushi Anita (Bharatanatyam) and the city’s Saptarshi Souharda Credit Co-operative Society (Co-operation). They will be bestowed with the award at a programme to take place at Veene Seshanna Bhavan in Kuvempunagar at 10.30 am on Dec. 24.

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By Gouri Satya, Sr. Journalist

Practically, every street in Mysuru has some history behind it. But this street has a tale of tragedy. In Chamarajapuram, one comes across a road named, ‘Deva Parthiva Road’. Not many know either this Deva Parthiva or the obscured history behind him. It stands apart, telling a different tale, from the other roads erected in memory of the erstwhile royal family members in the city.

It stands shadowing the struggle of adoption at a crucial stage of Mysuru history. The struggle was not an ordinary one. It was a struggle for survival, of freedom — on one side, survival of the Wadiyar family in power and their future and on the other, saving the Kingdom from going into the hands of the British administration permanently and thus losing freedom.

But first, let us know who this Deva Parthiva is. A look at some records throws some light about this person — a prince born to Krishnaraja Wadiyar III, but deprived of becoming his successor and the future Maharaja of Mysuru.

Krishnaraja Wadiyar III (1799-1868) had two sons and two grandsons from them. The two sons were Prince Chamaraja Bahadur (1816-1836) of Madana Vilasa and Prince Nanjaraja Bahadur of Lakshmi Vilasa, but they were not born to his legally married wives. They belonged to non-Ursu families. In other words, they were not his Ourasa Putras ((ಔರಸ ಪುತ್ರ)) but Gandharva Putras (ಗಾಂಧರ್ವ ಪುತ್ರ).. Both the sons had died even  before Mummadi.

Madana Vilasa Chamaraja Bahadur had two sons, Army Commander (Senadhipathi) Nanjaraja Bahadur (1833-1897) and Madana Vilasa Prince Devaraja Bahadur. Nanjaraja Bahadur of Lakshmi Vilasa also had two sons. Deva Parthiva Raja Bahadur was one of them.

The British conspiracy

Of the two grandsons, Senadhipathi Nanjaraja Bahadur was elder to Deva Parthiva. Mummadi deemed Deva Parthiva as a rightful heir. But, two factors came in the way of making Deva Parthiva his successor. Firstly, his grandmother, Putta Rangamba Devi of Lakshmi Vilasa, one of the co-wives of the Maharaja, was a Brahmin. Secondly, the British administration refused to recognise him as Maharaja’s ‘son’ because he was not of Kshatriya blood.

Mummadi was well aware of the attitude and intentions of the British authorities. He also knew well that if he adopted Deva Parthiva against their wishes it would lead to disastrous consequences and harm the interests of both the royal family and his subjects.

The British authorities’ intentions in refusing to recognise Deva Parthiva were deep-rooted. They wanted to take over the State and its administration permanently as they had already done in respect of a few other States. The powers of administration of Mysuru were already vested with them as they had annexed the State from Krishnaraja Wadiyar III in 1831.

Placed in an advantageous position, they could dictate terms to the Maharaja. Any stand taken by the Maharaja against their wishes would be enough for them to take over the State.

With these concealed motives, they consistently declined the repeated requests of the Maharaja to restore powers to him and also did not permit him to adopt a successor. Their intentions become evident in a report sent to the British Emperor by Governor-General Dalhousie. In that report, he stated that Krishnaraja Wadiyar had already reached the age of 60 and had no male issues.

It is unlikely that he intended to adopt any male issue from among his nearest relatives to succeed him to the throne. Hence, it was worthwhile considering retaining Mysuru State under their administration.

Pressure on the Maharaja

With this ulterior motive, they were pressurising the Maharaja not to insist on the restoration of his powers. Commissioner Bowring prevailed upon the Maharaja through his assistants, Major Eliot and Major Martin, to accept the recommendation he had made to the British Emperor and not to insist on the restoration of powers of the State.

He had gone to the extent of suggesting to the Maharaja to accept “some little territory south of the Cauvery River affording a revenue of Rs. 10 lakh and renounce all his claims,” a recommendation he had made to the Viceroy (Mysore State Papers Selections Vol. III 1810-1848 secret correspondence and confidential papers, Secret Letter No. 66 Pages 171-172 Para 3). With this obscure motive, Dalhousie and others maintained consistently that the Maharaja had no sons, ignoring Deva Parthiva.

Tact and diplomatic skill

Krishnaraja Wadiyar was intelligent and sensible. He continued to act with caution and courage, an unusual amount of tact and diplomatic skill. While he continued petitioning the British rulers for the restoration of powers, he quietly contemplated having an heir to the throne.

Under these circumstances, the Maharaja perhaps concluded that he should not name Deva Parthiva as his successor. Palace intrigues which were working against his interests and spreading false rumours further cemented his decision. He knew the adoption of Deva Parthiva was not wise and even if he adopted him, his action would go unrecognised. That would be enough for the British to assume powers of the State permanently. It would not only deprive him and his successors of their ancient kingdom but would also harm the interests of his people and the State.

Hence, Krishnaraja Wadiyar contemplated adopting Chamarajendra Wadiyar who hailed from the family of Maharani Lakshmammanni of Bettadakote. However, he kept his intention close to his chest till the last minute.

Subsequently, when he communicated his intention to adopt a son to the British Government, he was told that any adoption of a male would only relate to his private property and would have no concern with the Government of the country.

A skilful strategy planned

Planning a skilful strategy, the Maharaja assembled all the prominent personalities from all over his State, including the British officers in Mysuru, to the Palace on a particular day. In front of all of them, he announced his decision to adopt a son. Everyone thought the assembly would end at that stage of formal announcement, but to the surprise of all those present, a child was brought from inside.

He took the child on his lap and declared him as his son and successor, while the royal priests completed the religious formalities. The entire house rejoiced over the adoption with loud cheers and approval.

The formal adoption in the presence of such a big gathering left the British authorities with no choice but to reconsider their stand. They subsequently recognised Chamaraja Wadiyar as the successor to the late Krishnaraja Wadiyar III.

This is how the ill-starred Deva Parthiva was deprived of the Kingship of Mysuru and more or less went into oblivion. At the same time, fortune-favoured Chamarajendra Wadiyar X became the ruler of Mysuru.

It is the name of this unfortunate Yuvaraja the road near Geetha Road in Chamaraja Mohalla bears. Probably, Krishnaraja Wadiyar III had named a street in the old town of Mysuru within the Palace Fort as Deva Parthiva Road. This road existed even during Chamaraja Wadiyar.

Probably, when the congested area around the Palace in the old town was cleared, the Deva Parthiva Road disappeared and a road in the newly developed Chamaraja Mohalla, outside the Fort, was named in his honour. Incidentally, the Mohalla is named in honour of Chamaraja Wadiyar.

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By Gouri Satya, Sr. Journalist

The restoration of the historic landmark Elgin Fountain is a major change in the stand of the Mysuru City Corporation (MCC), which has been favouring the demolition of heritage and historic structures in the city unmindful of its civic responsibility. It had also proposed to demolish the Elgin Fountain and construct one with a new design in its place.

However, thanks to the timely intervention, it has been restored to remain a significant historical monument of Mysuru. Mysuru Deputy Commissioner Dr. K.V. Rajendra, who asked the MCC to drop the demolition proposal and instead beautify it in the ‘as-is’ state and preserve its heritage value, is to be complimented.

I recall a letter I wrote while I was in the US last year which Star of Mysore was kind enough to publish (Voice of the Reader – “City of Circles: Erasing History,” Oct. 19, 2022) wherein I brought out the historical significance of this beautiful Fountain and underlining the need to preserve and protect this monument. Adding to the heritage city’s importance, it has now escaped destruction and stands restored and its background is often referred in the newspaper reports now.

The Fountain has a chequered history of moving from one place to the other — from K.R. Circle to Dhanvantri Road and from there to Bengaluru-Mysuru Road and now finally rests at the Ashoka Road junction — a sort of ‘moving fountain’ of Mysuru!

During the Maharajas’ rule, Mysuru saw many fountains within the small town. It was also a ‘City of Fountains’, a fact not many know. Fountains played at key Circles and in front of royal structures, joyfully attracting the evening walkers and nature lovers, now a thing of the past.

Chamaraja Wadiyar and Krishnaraja Wadiyar, in particular, beautified the then small town with fountains, springing waters up and above. These were big circular and artistic water founts, sending water into the air for a decorative and dramatic effect, not puny sprouts that just let water flow down a crooked pillar.

A dead fountain in Dufferin Clock Tower

The earliest fountain to be erected was the fountain in the Dufferin Clock Tower,

opposite the Devaraja Market. It was erected between 1886-1891 to mark the visit of Lord Dufferin, again as part of the beautification of the area. The fountain now lies dead within the tower since long.

This was followed by the Elgin Fountain as already mentioned in 1892. Then came the Hardinge Circle Fountain at the present Jayachamaraja Circle. It was built to commemorate the visit of Lord Hardinge in 1913. This was a beautiful and big fountain colourfully illuminated in the evenings.

To the merriment of those assembled around it, it swayed and danced to the kiss of winds, spraying gems of water drops on them. People sat relaxed and enjoyed the cool breeze and fresh air on the stone benches around it. Now, this fountain has faded into history.

Close to it was the Nishad Bagh (Kuppanna Park) where a row of fountains sprang up as one approached the bandstand. This fountain comes alive only  during Dasara season.

Mutilated and neglected

The fountain at the approach of the stepped garden at Lalitha Mahal Palace (1930) was another beauty. While the fountain has gone into oblivion, the seven-stepped garden stands mutilated and neglected. A fountain,  still in working condition, is to be seen in front of the Maharaja’s College, constructed as part of the Jubilee celebrations and inaugurated by none other than Maharaja Jayachamaraja Wadiyar. The fountain opposite Crawford Hall is, however, well-maintained.

Apart from these, there were fountains erected in front of the Jaganmohan Palace, with a cute image of a boy and girl holding an umbrella, one in front of Jayalakshmi Vilas Mansion, Cheluvamba Mansion, Lokranjan Mahal (the Summer Palace) and other royal mansions. Except for one or two, the rest either lie uncared for or destroyed.

Many lost fountains

The fountain opposite the MCC remains out of use like the one in front of the K.R. Hospital. The fountain near the City Railway Station welcomed passengers. It was later shifted to Government Ayurvedic Hospital Circle. The fountain at N. Madhava Rao Circle in Agrahara was the first Circle that was built during the 70s. The fountain here had an idol of Lord Shiva on the top. However, it has lost its charm. Thus, Mysuru has a history of fountains, most of which are out of action or have disappeared over a period.

These fountains and founts not only attracted people but also kept the environment around them clean. The MCC should take up a phased plan to restore and commission them and add a few more, including in the major extensions like Kuvempunagar, Jayalakshmipuram, Vidyaranayapuram, Nazarbad etc., and add grace and beauty to Mysuru, a tourist place, and more than all keep the area free from toxic air released by vehicles passing there. It would make Mysuru an alluring ‘City of Fountains’ both for the locals and the visitors.

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• Title:  “Hundred Years of Philosophy in Mysore University – An Overview”
• Editors : Dr. S. Venkatesh and Dr. V.N. Sheshagiri Rao
• Year:  2021
• Pages: 296
• Publisher:  Chairman, Department of Studies in Philosophy, University of Mysore, Manasagangothri, Mysuru- 570 006

By Gouri Satya, Sr. Journalist

The Department of Philosophy, University of Mysore, is as old as the University itself. The University was established on July 27, 1916. The Department came into existence the following year under the stewardship of Prof. A.R. Wadia.

Prof. Wadia had his higher education in Oxford and Cambridge. He reported to duty as Professor and Head of the Department on Jan. 1, 1917. Before that, there was a make-shift department                    with one tutor, Prof. Hiriyanna (1871-1950), widely known for his deep knowledge of Sanskrit.

After Prof. Wadia, Dr. Brajendranath Seal, a distinguished personality, became the Vice-Chancellor. He was himself a Professor of Philosophy and great Indologist from Calcutta and a classmate of Swami Vivekananda. He re-framed the Philosophy syllabus at the University.

Over a century, the Department has seen many stalwarts, who have brought fame to the Department and the University. They have taught hundreds of students in Philosophy, many of whom have contributed to the Indian thought of philosophy. Distinguished among them was none other than Dr. S. Radhakrishnan, who later became the President of India.

He joined the staff of the Department as an additional Professor. It was here that he wrote his book “Philosophy of Rabindranath Tagore”. Within a short period of three years at the University, he took the Department to national and international fame.

The other learned teachers included Professors K.R. Srinivasa Iyengar, M.A. Venkata Rao, G. Hanumantha Rao, Y.J. Padmarajaiah, T.A. Purushottam, N.A. Nikam, M. Yamunacharya, H.N. Raghavendrachar, H.K. Raja Rao, C.V. Srinivasa Murthy, Muddalinganna, M.N. Narasimhan, A.D. Mendonza, S.S. Raghavachar, S. Rangachar, H.T. Shanta, K.B. Ramakrishna Rao, C. Parvathamma, G. Srinivasan, A.L. Shivarudrappa, D.L. Patil, Srinivasa Rao and many others.

To mark its hundred years, the Department conducted a three-day national seminar from March 22 to 24, 2018. It was inaugurated by Prof. S. L. Bhyrappa, former Professor of Philosophy and Saraswathi Samman awardee. The valedictory address was delivered by Prof. B. Sheik Ali, former Professor of History and former Vice-Chancellor of Mangalore and Goa Universities. Now the proceedings of the seminar have been brought out under the title, “Hundred Years of Philosophy in Mysore University – An Overview.” The book is edited by Dr. S. Venkatesh and Dr. V.N. Sheshagiri Rao.

Scholars were invited to present papers on various aspects of 100 years of Philosophy at the University. Reminiscing how he took up the study of Philosophy, Dr. Bhyrappa recalls, in his address, that Dr. Purushottam Naidu, who was the head of the joint Department of Philosophy and Sociology and also the Principal of Maharaja’s College, had a dislike for Philosophy. He called Dr. Bhyrappa and said, “Young man, your scores are excellent. But you may not know that Philosophy bakes no bread. Take Sociology. You will have a lot of job opportunities.”

Dr. Bhyrappa replied immediately, “Sir if Philosophy does not bake any bread, I will open a bakery and earn my bread. But I want to study Philosophy.” However, he later took to literature beginning with ‘Vamshavriksha’, finding perusing D Litt “dry” and creative literature “full of rasa.”

In his valedictory address, Prof. Sheik Ali spoke on the ‘History of Philosophy’ and analysed how Philosophy is related to history. “The Seminar is really history and created history in the University,” he remarked.

The book has nearly 50 papers presented by scholars, former students and relatives of the former Professors who served in the Department. They trace how the Professors of the Department enriched Philosophy by their thoughts and works. 

Prof. Yadurajan describes Prof. A.R. Wadia as the most humane and exemplary philosopher. Belief in Karma and reincarnation were basic to his philosophy of life. Prof. Radhakrishnan’s philosophy centred around mainly three concepts — spirit, religion and intuition. These were the key concepts of his philosophy, says Prof. V.N. Sheshagiri Rao.

Speaking about Prof. M. Hiriyanna, a towering intellectual who was called the saint of Maharaja’s College, Dr. Sibnath Sarma says Philosophy for Prof. Hiriyanna was a quest for perfection and a study of values. 

Acharya Brajendra Nath Seal, a multi-dimensional genius of India, made known Indian philosophy to the world at large, especially the West, where there was a misconception, explains Dr. Bhupendra Chandra Das. Speaking about Panditaratnam Lakshmipuram Srinivasacharya, Prof. V.N. Sheshagiri Rao says he was for seeking and doing equal justice to every Darshana. Prof. K.S. Yadurajan and Dr. N. Chinnaswamy describe Prof. K.R. Sreenivasa Iyengar as one of the most outstanding academic philosophers of 20th-century India. D. Krishna Murthy observes that Prof. G. Hanumantha Rao was a multi-faceted personality. He founded the Mysore University Prasaranga. G.H. Krishnamurthy, G.R. Shylaja and Bharati Kasaragod also made presentations about Prof. Hanumantha Rao and said he had underlined the need to bring harmony between Philosophy and Science.

According to Prof. M.A. Venkata Rao, says Dr. V.N. Sheshagiri Rao, there was a wealth of philosophical material in India waiting to be analysed and interpreted. H.R. Ramachandra observes that Prof. H.N. Raghavendrachar believed that Dvaita had a message of peace and goodness to the whole world which is riddled with anxiety, frustration and insecurity. Prof. K.B. Prabhu Prasad touches upon the contribution of Prof. T.A. Purushottam. While Dr. S. Shailaja Nikam writes about her father, Prof. N.A. Nikam and how he made an impact on her, Prof. V.K. Nataraj observes that the most significant achievement during his term as the Vice-Chancellor was making the new post-graduate campus, Manasagangothri, functional. “It is a pity that the University has not commemorated the contribution of Prof. Nikam appropriately,” he laments. Prof. V.N. Sheshagiiri Rao also recalls Prof. Nikam’s contribution to making Manasagangothri functional, a great milestone in the history of Mysore University.

M.S. Iyengar reminiscences about Prof. M. Yamunacharya. Prof. Yamunacharya was very close to Maharaja Jayachamaraja Wadiyar, who invited him and celebrated his birthday. Prof. Yamunacharya assisted the Maharaja in writing his famous book, “The Philosophy of Dattatreya.” M. Govinda Prasad, Dr. D. Kumar and Prof. R. Vishweshwaran also spoke about Prof. Yamunacharya. Her father, Prof. C.V. Srinivasa Murthy, says Prof. C.S. Kamala, was a man of religious thoughts, but he was not for ritualistic practices. Prof. K.B. Prabhu Prasad writes, for Prof. H.K. Raja Rao Vedanta was as high as any other Western system of Philosophy. Dr. V.N. Sheshagiri Rao says Prof. S. Rangachar’s fields of interest were Ethics and Moral Philosophy. He also highlights the contribution of Prof. Y.J. Padmarajaiah. Prof. V. Muddalinganna is of the view that Vedic tradition is mostly a tradition of moral thought.

N.G. Mahadevappa describes Prof. S.S. Raghavachar as the “Modern Vacaspati Mishra.” Prof. Raghavachar’s knowledge was so vast he could speak on any of the Vedanta Darshana with authority, says Prof. V.N. Sheshagiri Rao. Prof. M.A. Jalihal describes Prof. L.V. Rajagopal’s keen interest in the study of A.N. Whitehead’s Philosophy which prompted him to produce a voluminous Ph.D thesis. Prof. M.V. Sridhara writes about some aspects of the English Mathematician and Philosopher, Whitehead. Shubhada recalls memories of her grandmother, Prof. H.T. Shanta, while Dr. V.N. Sheshagiri Rao highlights Prof. Shanta’s devotion to Bhagavata. Prof. R.I. Ingalalli chose the subject “The Eastern and Western View about Philosophical Scepticism,” while Prof. P.B. Bhat the “Nature of Metaphysical Statements.”

Describing Prof. M.N. Narasimhan as a “noble thinker, visionary and his communication was direct, clear and sharp,” M.K. Krishna says he had a unique love, Bhakti and faith in Acharya Bhagawad Ramanuja. Dr. H.M. Mallikarjunaswamy writes on the contribution of Prof. M.N. Narasimhan to Philosophy. K.R. Vijayalakshmi pays tributes to her father, Prof. K.B. Ramachandra Rao. Prof. Pradhan Gurudatt and Prof. U.A. Vinay Kumar also write about Prof. Ramachandra Rao, while K.V. Shivaswami on Prof. Ramakrishna Rao and Bhagavad Gita.

K.L. Padmini observes, according to Prof. Srinivasan, God is significant in any philosophical system. A philosopher needs God as the principle of explanation of coherence, regularity and orderliness which he finds in the universe. According to G.R. Nandan, Prof. Srinivasa Rao advocated the separation of religion from philosophy. He was of the opinion that interpretations coupled with religion were largely responsible for our (mis)understanding of schools of philosophy which continues unabated even today.

Others whose papers are included in the book are H.R. Shankaranarayana (about Prof. A. L. Shivarudrappa), Prof. Satyanarayana (Dr. C. Parvathamma), Prof. K.M. Poonacha (Prof. A.D. Mendonza), Dr. C.P. Ramasesh (Prof. D.L. Patil) and Dr. S. Venkatesh (V.N. Sheshagiri Rao).

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By Gouri Satya, Sr. Journalist

In Mysore, one comes across streets bearing names of prominent institutions which are on that stretch. One such road, which marks a kindergarten school, is the ‘Gopalaswamy Shishu Vihara Rasthe’.

It is in Lakshmipuram, near Nanjumalige Circle, on the southern side of the petrol bunk opposite Christ the King Convent (CKC). The popular nursery school has grown in size adding classes of higher levels over the years.

Kindergarten movement

The establishment of the Shishu Vihara heralded the kindergarten movement in Mysore. Till then, little attention was being paid to pre-school children to mould their potential and make them eligible for admission to primary school. Children up to the age of 5-6 had to stay in their homes without motivation to learn during the crucial stage of childhood.

Dr. Gopalaswamy realised the need to create opportunities for the holistic development of these pre-schoolers by building their social, emotional, literacy, and fine motor skills in an open environment. To bridge the gap, he started the Shishu Vihara, the first of its kind in the country.

Department of Psychology

Dr. Gopalaswamy was a Professor of Psychology and Logic at the prestigious Maharaja’s College. He founded the Department of Psychology in the College in 1924. It was the second oldest department in the country and was initially called the Psychology Laboratory.

Psychology was one of the three optional subjects, which the degree students studied for two years. It was usually combined with Economics, Politics, Sociology, Languages, Mathematics and Mathematical Statistics. The Honours students, however, studied Psychology for three years. Degrees were awarded based on theses incorporating the results of experimental work or papers.

The subject became increasingly popular and the number of students who had passed BA, BA (Hons.) and MA courses was as many as 244 during 1946-1950. The Department developed many of the Psychology apparatus in its workshop. It also did laudable work in the field of nursery education and mass education by Radio.

First nursery school

The keen interest in nursery education was evinced by Prof. Gopalaswamy, who had obtained his B.Sc and Ph.D in London, in addition to his BA degree from Madras University, which led to the starting of the nursery school in 1928.

Apart from Mysore State, it was the first nursery school to be established in the country for young children, and the credit for establishing it goes to Prof. Gopalaswamy, who was determined to take up nursery school work as a mission in his life. The school received the patronage of the Department of Public Instruction and the Mysore City Municipal Council.

Through the newly started children’s school, he introduced a new concept of innovative education. He gave the name, ‘Shishu Vihara’, to the pioneering school he had started.

He realised that early childhood education was vital and that the kindergarten method was best suited to the socio-economic conditions of our country. He was also aware that nursery school activities helped mould the potentialities of preschool children on scientific lines.

Bearing this in mind, he tried modern methods of child education individually and collectively. Ingenious educational devices and tools were devised and put to use in his institution.

Picture story narration, dramatisation and recitation of nursery rhymes were the main features of this institution as against strictness, coercion, goading or even direct teaching. A great variety of activities were taught to promote physical, mental, moral and social talent in children.

All efforts were made to cultivate and develop healthy habits which in the long run would become their intrinsic character and mould the potentialities of the pre-schoolers on scientific lines. Gardening also played a prominent part. In the backyard of the school, a kitchen garden had been raised where teachers worked together and grew vegetables and greens.

Shishu Vihara

The visionary Professor spared no effort to make the Shishu Vihara experiment a model one. He trained his mother and wife, Kamala Gopalaswamy, in nursery and Montessori methods and they became teachers for the little children. He invited Kannada poet G.P. Rajarathnam to the school.

Children’s poems that Rajarathnam recited and taught became popular among the little children who began to sing and enjoy. The compilation of the children’s poems brought him fame as a children’s poet. His popular poems like ‘Kadalepuri’, ‘Kene Haalu’, ‘Kallu Sakkare’ and ‘Thuththoori’ were the result of his participation among the children in the Shishu Vihara, thanks to Prof. Gopalaswamy.

The Gopalaswamy Shishu Vihara also had another objective. It was an experimental institution for psychology students and teachers, to understand the mental abilities of growing-up children and the fillip needed for the development of their faculties in the appropriate way to make them fit for the next stage of school learning. It served as a laboratory to study and analyse the development of preschool children.

Much valuable data regarding the comparative value of the new type and traditional examination methods were gathered which in turn helped in improving teaching methodology. It resulted in framing new types of examination papers in all subjects, except the languages in 1932.

Akashvani was another outcome

The establishment of the Shishu Vihara resulted in another fruitful outcome. It gave a fillip to Prof. Gopalaswamy to launch the experimental broadcasting station, Akashvani, at his residence in Vontikoppal in Mysore in 1935. The Broadcasting Station was aimed at promoting mass education through Radio. It also helped his students in the study of listeners’ tastes and the psychology of propaganda.

Like Shishu Vihara, Akashvani also became a household name. The Kannada name was quickly taken up by the Government and was adopted for all its stations. After the adoption of the Kannada name, stations of All India Radio came to be called Akashvani, a term which became familiar among all listeners of AIR programmes across the country.

All these visionary efforts of Prof. Gopalaswamy led to a varied nature of work in the Psychology Laboratory of Maharaja’s College, where he served for two decades as the Head of the Department and subsequently as the Principal of the College.

Thesis on valuable subjects like “Growth of Intelligence during the first year of Childhood”, “The Language Development of the Pre-school Child”, “The Development of Fear, Anger, and Laughter in Children”, “Pre-school Mental Tests”, “Personality Types” etc. were among those produced there.

Shishu Vihara became synonymous with kids

The ‘Shishu Vihara’ name he gave to his kindergarten school became so popular many Shishu Viharas came up later emulating its example. Deshmukhi Krishnamurthy had worked in Dr. Gopalaswamy’s Shishu Vihara for ten years and gained experience as a nursery school teacher.

With the background of his experience, he started Sri Jagadamba Shishu Vihara in 1939, which also became popular. He also devised ingenious educational devices and methods of nursery school education, evincing great interest in nursery and kindergarten methods.

A pioneer that Gopalaswamy was

The pioneering institution started by Prof. Gopalaswamy proudly carries his name even today. The road where the Gopalaswamy Shishu Vihara stands has been named after him and his institution. A matter of regret is the etched street sign embedded into a compound wall on the street corner is lost now. While constructing a new compound wall, the tablet, worthy of preserving, has been discarded. Probably, it has disappeared along with the rubble.

Prof. M.V. Gopalaswamy, who pioneered nursery education in the country, was born in 1896 in an affluent family of a judge. He has left solid footprints on the development of Mysore, which had a wide-ranging impact on the country. ‘Akashvani’, ‘Shishu Vihara’, and the Department of Psychology at Mysore University stand as a monument to this learned Professor of Mysore.

The post The street name for a Shishu Vihara appeared first on Star of Mysore.

By Gouri Satya, Sr. Journalist

The electrician, who came to my house on Sunday soon after the counting of votes of the Assembly elections on Saturday (May 13), was eager to express his opinion about the outcome of the polls, as the subject was still hot and fresh. Referring to the Congress’ stunning victory, he remarked that their community voted in favour of the Congress. They had received directions from their religious leaders to back the Congress as, he said, the ruling party, which they trusted in the last four years, had let them down. Their defeat was their own creation (ಸ್ವಯಂಕೃತಾಪರಾಧ).

It was obvious from his remarks that there was discontent among Lingayats, as its prominent leaders including former Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa, who had played a crucial role in building up the party in the State, had been deprived of the Chief Ministership for the rest of the term and sidelined, while Jagadish Shettar and Laxman Savadi, two influential senior leaders of the community, had been denied tickets along with nearly 20 others.

This disillusionment among the Lingayats largely benefited the Congress in scoring a stunning victory at the hustings. Savadi, for example, won by a huge margin of over 76,000 votes, defeating BJP’s Mahesh Kumathalli in Athani Assembly Constituency. Similarly, the saffron party was swept away in its stronghold of Lingayat belt in North Karnataka. The party which had 38 Lingayat legislators in 2018 could manage to win only 18 seats this time. On the other hand, as many as 34 Lingayats won on Congress tickets, while it was 26 in 2013 and 16 in 2018. The victory of so many Lingayat candidates gives credence to the remarks made by the electrician. 

The results also reveal the consolidation of Muslim votes in favour of the Congress. Of the 15 candidates it had fielded, nine were elected. BJP had fielded none and no Muslim candidate fielded by the JD(S) was elected. 

The BJP replaced many strong members of the party with as many as 70 new faces. The Gujarat experiment failed to benefit the party as could be seen from the results. It could have ensured the victory of some of its popular and senior candidates by retaining them in their Constituencies, but, on the other, pitted them against strong Congress  leaders, like in the case of  Minister V. Somanna, who was made to contest against former Chief Minister Siddharamaiah. Both Varuna and Chamarajanagar were outside Somanna’s home turf, Govindarajanagar in Bengaluru.

In an Assembly election, voters assess the State Government’s performance and elect candidates who are popular and easily accessible to them. In such a scenario, bringing outsiders to contest against the local candidates may fail to yield the desired result. This appears to be what happened in the case of the BJP. Voters were also disappointed over the lacklustre administration of Basavaraj Bommai. Bommai could barely match the two Congress strongmen,Siddharamaiah and D.K. Shivakumar. As a result, the leadership failed to effectively counter allegations like the 40% commission forcefully made out by the Congress during the campaign. 

Besides allegations of widespread corruption, the BJP’s reign was marred by a series of controversies like the hijab ban. Issues like communalism and inflation were other strong factors that cost the BJP dearly. Take the price of an LPG cylinder, it is as high as Rs. 1,100 today, which is too expensive for even a middle-class family. Similarly, the prices of most household items have become dear, turning the anger of the people against the ruling dispensation. No surprise, therefore, the five promises made to voters by Congress, by handing over a ‘guarantee card’ to every household in the State, caught the imagination of the people, in particular the poor.  

These and other issues like relying chiefly on Prime Minister for the party campaign led the BJP Government to a disastrous end. Its scoreboard nosedived to less than half of the Congress’ — 66 against 135.

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