Prime Minister Narendra Modi is in Bangalore today. He will unveil the statue of Nadaprabhu Kempegowda, the founder of Bengaluru, here. This idol made of bronze is 108 feet high. Apart from the statue, PM Modi will also inaugurate Terminal 2 of Kempegowda International Airport here. Its cost is about 5 thousand crore rupees.
This visit of Prime Minister Modi is also considered very important from the political point of view, because assembly elections are to be held in Karnataka after 5 months.
However, the Congress has raised questions about the inauguration of Kempegowda’s statue. Karnataka Congress President DK Shivakumar raised the question why government money was used to make Kempegowda’s statue? He said that Bengaluru International Airport Limited (BIAL) is responsible for the Kampegowda International Airport and it should have borne the cost of the statue.
Shivakumar said, “It is a crime to install a statue made with government money. The Karnataka government had given land and funds to BIAL. Out of 4,200 acres, 2,000 acres was given only at Rs 6 lakh per acre. BIAL should have used its money.”
Apart from the statue of Kempegowda in the airport premises, there is also a theme park built on 23 acres. Its cost is Rs 84 crore.
But who is Kempegowda?
Nadaprabhu Kempegowda was the ruler of the Vijayanagara Empire. He founded Bangalore in 1537. Here he got many inscriptions made in Kannada language.
Kempegowda’s father was the son of Morasu Vokkaliga Kempenanje Gowda, who ruled Yelhanakanadu for more than 70 years. His family is believed to have migrated from Kanchi in Tamil Nadu to Karnataka in the 15th century and took over the rule of the Vijayanagara Empire. In 1513, Kempegowda took over his father’s legacy. Kempegowda ruled the Vijayanagara Empire for about 46 years.
It is believed that once Kempegowda went hunting with his minister Veeranna and advisor Gidde Gowda, it is only then that he envisioned a city with forts, tanks, cantonments, temples and business facilities.
Kempegowda first conquered the princely state of Sivaganga and later conquered Domlur. Domlur is located on the old Bangalore Airport road. In 1537 he built the Bangalore Fort and settled the city. And shifted his capital from Yelahanka to Bangalore.
The fort built by Kempegowda was red in colour. This fort had 8 doors and there were two wide roads inside. There was also a wide moat outside the fort. They also settled skilled craftsmen from far-flung areas so that they could do business.
How is his 108 feet tall statue?
The 108 feet tall statue of Kempegowda that PM Modi will unveil has been designed by renowned sculptor and Padma Bhushan awardee Ram Vanji Sutar. Sutar also designed the Sardar Patel statue in Gujarat.
This is the tallest statue of the founder of a city. The statue weighs 218 tonnes, in which 98 tonnes of bronze and 120 tonnes of steel have been used. The sword of the idol weighs only 4 tons.
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