The renowned Prime Minister of India recently inaugurated the 108-foot statue of Nadaprabhu Kempegowda, a significant historical figure who is accredited with the foundation of the city of Bengaluru. Alongside this, the Prime Minister also took the opportunity to inaugurate Terminal 2 of the Bengaluru airport, aptly named after the city’s founder. The renowned statue is referred to as the “Statue of Prosperity,” embodying the rich history and prosperity of this great city.
Remarkable Features of the Statue of Prosperity
The eminent “World Book of Records” identifies the Statue of Prosperity as the first and tallest bronze sculpture portraying a founder of a city. The renowned sculptor Ram Vanji Sutar, a recipient of the prestigious Padma Bhushan award, is credited with designing this monumental work of art.
Sutar is also recognized for creating the ‘Statue of Unity’ based in Gujarat and the Mahatma Gandhi statue, a prominent landmark of Bengaluru’s ‘Vidhana Soudha’. The unveiling of the statue was marked by an unforgettable ritual where ‘Mruthike’, or sacred mud, sourced from over 22,000 locations across the state was symbolically integrated with the mud resting beneath one of the statue’s four towers.
Life and Legacy of Nadaprabhu Kempegowda
Nadaprabhu Kempegowda was born in 1513, in a small village near Yelahanka. He rose to prominence as a chieftain under the influential Vijayanagara Empire of the 16th century and is hailed as an iconic figure among the Vokkaligas, ranking as Karnataka’s second most dominant community, following closely after the Lingayats.
Kempegowda spent nine years studying at a Gurukula near Aigondapura, presently known as Hessaraghatta. Here he acquired valuable knowledge of statecraft and martial skills. His crowning achievement was conceiving the city of Bengaluru, Karnataka, during a hunting expedition with his minister.
The city’s borders were defined by four towers that Kempegowda erected at its corners. He is also recognized for constructing approximately 1,000 lakes in the city, ensuring sufficient drinking water and catering to agricultural demands. Kempegowda was instrumental in abolishing the oppressive practice of mutilating the fingers of unmarried women during a ritual known as ‘Bandi Devaru’ – a major custom followed by Morasu Vokkaligas.
After a formidable rule of about 56 years, Kempegowda passed away in 1569. His name lives on through several landmarks dedicated to his memory by State governments including the Kempegowda International Airport, the Kempegowda Bus Stand, and the Nadaprabhu Kempegowda Metro Station.
