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Kempe Gowda I, locally venerated as Nadaprabhu Kempe Gowda, or commonly known as Kempe Gowda, was a
chieftain A tribal chief or chieftain is the leader of a tribal society or chiefdom. Tribe The concept of tribe is a broadly applied concept, based on tribal concepts of societies of western Afroeurasia. Tribal societies are sometimes categorized a ...
under the
Vijayanagara Empire The Vijayanagara Empire, also called the Karnata Kingdom, was a Hindu empire based in the region of South India, which consisted the modern states of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Goa and some parts of Telangana and Mahar ...
in early-modern India. He is famous for founding the present-day southern Indian city of
Bangalore Bangalore (), List of renamed places in India, officially Bengaluru (), is the Capital city, capital and largest city of the Indian state of Karnataka. It has a population of more than and a metropolitan area, metropolitan population of a ...
.


Early life

Kempe Gowda was born in the
Yelahanka Yelahanka is now a suburb of Bangalore in the state of Karnataka and one of the zones of BBMP. It is the oldest part of present Municipal Bengaluru (Bangalore) city and is in the north of the city. It is Nadaprabhu Kempegowda I, of the Yelaha ...
suburb of
Bangalore Bangalore (), List of renamed places in India, officially Bengaluru (), is the Capital city, capital and largest city of the Indian state of Karnataka. It has a population of more than and a metropolitan area, metropolitan population of a ...
in the Morasu Vokkaliga community to Kempananje Gowda, the ruler of Yelhanka for more than 70 years. The Morasu Vokkaligas were Vijayanagara vassals at Yelahanka and belonged to the Gowda community. The community is said to have moved from
Kanchi Kanchipuram ('; ) also known as ''Conjeevaram,'' is a city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu in the Tondaimandalam region, from Chennaithe capital of Tamil Nadu. Known as the ''City of Thousand Temples'', Kanchipuram is known for its templ ...
,
Tamil Nadu Tamil Nadu (; , TN) is a state in southern India. It is the tenth largest Indian state by area and the sixth largest by population. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu is the home of the Tamil people, whose Tamil language ...
, to
Karnataka Karnataka (; ISO: , , also known as Karunāḍu) is a state in the southwestern region of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, with the passage of the States Reorganisation Act. Originally known as Mysore State , it was renamed ''Karnat ...
in the early
fifteenth century The 15th century was the century which spans the Julian dates from 1 January 1401 ( MCDI) to 31 December 1500 ( MD). In Europe, the 15th century includes parts of the Late Middle Ages, the Early Renaissance, and the early modern period. Man ...
and served under the Vijayanagara Empire. However, according to other sources, they were originally from
Karnataka Karnataka (; ISO: , , also known as Karunāḍu) is a state in the southwestern region of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, with the passage of the States Reorganisation Act. Originally known as Mysore State , it was renamed ''Karnat ...
and were a
Kannada Kannada (; ಕನ್ನಡ, ), originally romanised Canarese, is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by the people of Karnataka in southwestern India, with minorities in all neighbouring states. It has around 47 million native s ...
-speaking community, although well-versed in Telugu. Kempe Gowda, who is reputed to have shown leadership skills during his childhood, was educated for nine years at a
gurukula A or ( sa, गुरुकुल, gurukul) is a type of education system in ancient India with ('students' or 'disciples') living near or with the guru, in the same house. The guru-shishya tradition is a sacred one in Hinduism and possibly ...
in Aivarukandapura (or Aigondapura), a village near Hesaraghatta.


Reign

Fourth in succession from Rana Bhairave Gowda, founder of the dynasty of the Avati Nadu and great grandson of Jaya Gowda, a separate Vijayanagara feudal vassal, Kempe Gowda is the most famous of the Yelahanka rulers. Kempe Gowda assumed the chieftaincy of Yalahanka Nadu from his father in 1513 and would reign for 46 years.


Construction of Bangalore town

It is believed that Kempe Gowda envisioned a town out of vast woodlands and plateaus during a hunting expedition when he ventured from
Yelahanka Yelahanka is now a suburb of Bangalore in the state of Karnataka and one of the zones of BBMP. It is the oldest part of present Municipal Bengaluru (Bangalore) city and is in the north of the city. It is Nadaprabhu Kempegowda I, of the Yelaha ...
towards the
Shivanasamudra Shivanasamudra Falls is a waterfall on the border of Malavalli taluk, Mandya district and Kollegala taluk, Chamarajanagara district of the state of Karnataka, India. It is situated along the river Kaveri, which forms here the boundary to the ...
with his courtier Veeranna and eldest son Gidde Gowda. In 1526, Kempe Gowda conquered the
Sivaganga Sivaganga () is a city and headquarters of the Sivaganga district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Sivaganga is a rani velunachiyar kingdom of Tamil Nadu. It is an important city in this district for official and commercial purposes. Its ni ...
principality, from Bangalore on the Bangalore-Pune Highway. He then annexed
Domlur Domlur is a small township located in the eastern part of Bangalore city in India. Domlur was included in the erstwhile Bangalore Civil and Military Station under the British Madras Presidency till it was transferred to the Mysore State in 19 ...
(a present-day suburb on the road from Bangalore to the old Bangalore airport). Within this vast forest area, and with imperial permission of the Vijayanagar Emperor Achyutharaya (an inscription at
Dasarahalli Dasarahalli is a town and a city municipal council in Bangalore Urban district in the state of Karnataka, India Demographics India census A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording and calculating information about ...
records the decree date as 1532), he built
Bangalore Fort Bangalore Fort began in 1537 as a mud fort. The builder was Kempe Gowda I, a vassal of the Vijaynagar Empire and the founder of Bangalore. Hyder Ali in 1761 replaced the mud fort with a stone fort and it was further improved by his son Tipu S ...
and the town in 1537, and moved his capital from
Yelahanka Yelahanka is now a suburb of Bangalore in the state of Karnataka and one of the zones of BBMP. It is the oldest part of present Municipal Bengaluru (Bangalore) city and is in the north of the city. It is Nadaprabhu Kempegowda I, of the Yelaha ...
to the new
Bengaluru Pete Bengaluru Pete is the area of Bangalore city which was established by Kempegowda I (c. 1510–1570) in 1537 with roads laid out in the cardinal directions, and entrance gates at the end of each road. Kempegowda also termed the Pete he built as h ...
, the foundation of present-day
Bangalore Bangalore (), List of renamed places in India, officially Bengaluru (), is the Capital city, capital and largest city of the Indian state of Karnataka. It has a population of more than and a metropolitan area, metropolitan population of a ...
city. Fearing Kempe Gowda's rise in power at
Penukonda Penukonda also called Penugonda is a town in the Sri Sathya Sai district of Andhra Pradesh, India. It is 70 km away from Anantapur town. Demography According to '' The Imperial Gazetteer of India'', Penukonda was a subdivision and tal ...
, Jagadevaraya, a neighbouring poleygar at Channapattana, lodged a complaint Emperor
Sadashiva Raya Sadasiva Raya (1542–1570) was a ruler of the Vijayanagara Empire, a powerful Southern Indian empire based in the Deccan region in the 16th century India. When the Vijayanagara ruler Achyuta Raya, who was the younger brother of Krishnadevar ...
. Kempe Gowda's territories were confiscated and he was imprisoned for five years. After being released, he was returned his territories. Over the following years, however, pleased with his activities, the Emperor would bestow Kempe Gowda the nearby villages of
Ulsoor Ulsoor, or Halasuru, is one of the oldest neighbourhoods in the city of Bangalore. It is located in central Bangalore, and begins roughly near the eastern terminus of MG Road. It is renowned for its numerous temples and market. History and ...
, Begur, Varthur,
Jigani Jigani Hobli is located in Anekal taluk in South Bengaluru, India and is situated at a distance of 28 km from Bangalore city railway station. Some of the features of the place Jigani are that it has a well-established Jigani industrial ar ...
, Thalagattapura,
Kumbalgodu Kumbalgodu (also spelled as Kumbalagodu) is a town located on the outskirts of the Indian city of Bangalore. It is situated along the Mysore Road between Kengeri and Bidadi, and, according to the 2011 census, has a population of over 10,000. Th ...
,
Kengeri Kengeri is a suburb in Bangalore city. It is located on the western corridor along Mysore Road, bordered by Nagarbhavi to the north and Rajarajeshwari Nagar to the east. History The name Kengeri comes from the Kannada words Tengu coconut and K ...
, and Banavara.


Bangalore fort

Kempe Gowda built a red fort with eight gates and a moat surrounding it. Inside the fort two wide roads ran from North to South and East to West. The other roads were made parallel or perpendicular to them. On an auspicious moment fixed by an astrologer, Kempe Gowda harnessed the bullocks to the ploughs at the central Doddapete square, at the junction of Doddapete (
Avenue Road Avenue Road is a major north–south street in Toronto, Ontario. The road is a continuation of University Avenue, linked to it via Queen's Park and Queen's Park Crescent East and West to form a single through route.''Toronto Pocket Street Atla ...
) and Chikka pete, got the ground ploughed and worked the four main streets running in four directions. One ran from Halasoor (
Ulsoor Ulsoor, or Halasuru, is one of the oldest neighbourhoods in the city of Bangalore. It is located in central Bangalore, and begins roughly near the eastern terminus of MG Road. It is renowned for its numerous temples and market. History and ...
) Gate to
Sondekoppa Sondekoppa is a village, 30 km away from Bangalore, in the Indian state of Karnataka. During the kempegowda regime the binnipet was known as the gateway of Sondekoppa. Population of the village is about 15000. Temples This village has thr ...
Road from East to West, and another from Yelahanka Gate to the Fort running from North to South. These roads are the present Nagarthapete and Chikka pete; and Doddapete respectively. The streets and the Blocks were demarcated for the purpose they were meant, like for business or residences etc. Streets of Doddapete, Chikkapete, Nagartha-pete were for marketing of general merchandise; Aralepete (Cotton pet), Tharagupete, Akki pete, Ragipete, Balepete etc. were for marketing of commodities like
cotton Cotton is a soft, fluffy staple fiber that grows in a boll, or protective case, around the seeds of the cotton plants of the genus '' Gossypium'' in the mallow family Malvaceae. The fiber is almost pure cellulose, and can contain minor pe ...
, grain,
rice Rice is the seed of the grass species '' Oryza sativa'' (Asian rice) or less commonly ''Oryza glaberrima'' (African rice). The name wild rice is usually used for species of the genera '' Zizania'' and '' Porteresia'', both wild and domesticat ...
, ragi, and bangles respectively: kurubarapete, Kumbara-pete, Ganigarapete, Upparapete etc. were for trades and crafts, and residences of Kuruba, Kumbara, Ganiga,
Uppara Uppara or Sagara is a Hindu caste belonging to Kshatriya Varna and are classified as Backward Class or OBC, predominately found in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Telangana and Tamil Nadu. Reprint. Originally published: Madras : S ...
castes respectively and similar petes' (Blocks). Halasoorpete, Manava-rthepete, Mutyalapete (Ballapurapete) etc. were meant for other groups of the society. The Agraharas were for the priests and learned classes. He got skilled artisans and craftsmen from the neighboring as well as far off places and got them settled so that they could pursue their vocations. Temples of Vinayaka and Anjaneya were built at the Northern Yelahanka Gate of the fort (near the present head office of
State Bank of Mysore State Bank of Mysore was a Public Sector bank in India, with headquarters at Bangalore. It was one of the five associate banks of State Bank of India, all of which were consolidated with the State Bank of India with effect from 1 April 2017. S ...
). Dodda Basavannanagudi ( The Bull Temple) and in its neighbourhood, Dodda Vinayaka and Dodda Anjaneya and Veerabhadhra temples were also built outside the fort on the southern side. Gavi Gangadhareshwara temple was also built by Kempe Gowda. Kempe Gowda I encouraged the construction of temples and lakes and planned residential layouts, or agraharams, around each temple. The construction of the mud fort and several temples and
lake A lake is an area filled with water, localized in a basin, surrounded by land, and distinct from any river or other outlet that serves to feed or drain the lake. Lakes lie on land and are not part of the ocean, although, like the much large ...
s transformed
Bangalore Bangalore (), List of renamed places in India, officially Bengaluru (), is the Capital city, capital and largest city of the Indian state of Karnataka. It has a population of more than and a metropolitan area, metropolitan population of a ...
from a sleepy village to a centre of culture based on vedic traditions. Tanks were built for the water supply to the town, to the moat around the fort and for the irrigation of crops. Inside the fort, a big pond enclosed by masonry of dressed
granite Granite () is a coarse-grained ( phaneritic) intrusive igneous rock composed mostly of quartz, alkali feldspar, and plagioclase. It forms from magma with a high content of silica and alkali metal oxides that slowly cools and solidifies under ...
stones was dug and built (on the South-Western corner of the present Sri Krishnarajendra Market). Dhar-mambudhi tank, which supplied water to the town (present Subhash Nagar, BMTC bus stand and KSRTC bus stands, in front of the city Railway Station), Kempambudhi tank (named after Ranabhaire Gowda's family Goddess, Doddamma or Kempamma), in Gavi-pura Guttahalli and Samp-igambudhi tank (named after one of the daughters-in-law: present
Sree Kanteerava Stadium Sree Kanteerava Outdoor Stadium, also known as Sampangi Outdoor Stadium, is a multi-purpose stadium in Bangalore, India. It houses a running track, a volleyball court, and two outdoor rock climbing walls. The stadium is owned by the Department ...
), which were meant for
irrigation Irrigation (also referred to as watering) is the practice of applying controlled amounts of water to land to help grow crops, landscape plants, and lawns. Irrigation has been a key aspect of agriculture for over 5,000 years and has been devel ...
, were also built. Irrigational facilities gave much impetus to
agriculture Agriculture or farming is the practice of cultivating plants and livestock. Agriculture was the key development in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that enabled people t ...
and
horticulture Horticulture is the branch of agriculture that deals with the art, science, technology, and business of plant cultivation. It includes the cultivation of fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, herbs, sprouts, mushrooms, algae, flowers, seaweeds and no ...
and also encouraged laying of gardens and raising groves of fruit crops.


Death and succession

Kempe Gowda died in 1569 having ruled for about 46 years. The 16th century
Kannada Kannada (; ಕನ್ನಡ, ), originally romanised Canarese, is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by the people of Karnataka in southwestern India, with minorities in all neighbouring states. It has around 47 million native s ...
epitaph on his tomb proclaims that he died on the spot at Kempapura, a village in
Magadi Magadi is a Taluk headquarters located in Ramanagara district. The town is situated at a distance of 51 km from Bangalore. The founder of Bangalore, the great Kempegowda was a native of Kempapura, Magadi taluk. Magadi, having a rich cultur ...
, while returning from Kunigal, reportedly after settling a dispute. Kempe Gowda's tomb was accidentally found on 7 March 2015 by Prashanth Marur, a college official-turned-historian, while he was driving by Kempapura. It was also authenticated by group of historians who visited the tomb. It is believed that his son Kempe Gowda II built the tomb after his father's demise. After confirmation, Marur wrote an article that was published in'' Vijayavani'' on 3 September 2015.


Succession

According to some literary sources, Kempe Gowda's elder son Gidde Gowda succeeded him and his lineage lasted for a century in
Magadi Magadi is a Taluk headquarters located in Ramanagara district. The town is situated at a distance of 51 km from Bangalore. The founder of Bangalore, the great Kempegowda was a native of Kempapura, Magadi taluk. Magadi, having a rich cultur ...
, where they built numerous temples, forts, and tanks. The Nelapattana subterranean town was built on the strategic foothills of the
Savandurga Savandurga is a hill 60 km west of Bengaluru (Karnataka, India), off the Magadi road in India. It is considered to be among the largest hills in Asia. The hill rises to 1226 m above mean sea level and forms a part of the Deccan plateau. It ...
to protect its city dwellers from neighbouring invasions. However, in 1728, Haider Ali, the commander-in-chief ('' dalvoy'') of the Kingdom of Mysore, defeated the ruler from Kempe Gowda's lineage and annexed the principality into the kingdom. The last Gowda ruler was imprisoned in Srirangapatana till his death. The family members were moved to Hulikal village in
Magadi Magadi is a Taluk headquarters located in Ramanagara district. The town is situated at a distance of 51 km from Bangalore. The founder of Bangalore, the great Kempegowda was a native of Kempapura, Magadi taluk. Magadi, having a rich cultur ...
. Some other family members were pensioned by Dewan
Purnaiah Purnaiah (Purniya) (1746 – 27 March 1812), aka Krishnacharya Purniya or Mir Miran Purniya was an Indian Administrator and statesman and the 1st Diwan of Mysore. He has the rare distinction of governing under a sultan and a maharaja, Tip ...
by gifting them ''jagirs'', or land grants, at Hosur in present-day
Tamil Nadu Tamil Nadu (; , TN) is a state in southern India. It is the tenth largest Indian state by area and the sixth largest by population. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu is the home of the Tamil people, whose Tamil language ...
, where the lineage continues as farmers.


Legacy


Social reforms

Kempe Gowda is also noted for his societal reforms and contribution to building temples and water reservoirs in Bengaluru. While ruling, one of his social reforms was to prohibit the custom of amputating the last two fingers of the left hand of unmarried women during "''bandi devaru''", a late custom in the Morasu Vokkaliga community.


Contributions

Kempe Gowda was a patron of arts and learning. In spite belonging to a purely
Kannada Kannada (; ಕನ್ನಡ, ), originally romanised Canarese, is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by the people of Karnataka in southwestern India, with minorities in all neighbouring states. It has around 47 million native s ...
speaking community, he was a polyglot and authored ''Gangagaurivilasa'', a
yakshagana Yakshagaana is a traditional theatre, developed in Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, Uttara Kannada, Shimoga and western parts of Chikmagalur districts, in the state of Karnataka and in Kasaragod district in Kerala that combines dance, music, dialogue, ...
play, in Telugu, the court-language of the time.


Memorials

A metal statue of Kempe Gowda was posthumously installed in 1609 at Gangadhareshwara temple at Shivagange. In 1964, another statue was erected in front of the Corporation Office at Bangalore. The city bus stand of Bangalore is named Kempegowda Bus Station in his honour. Bangalore International Airport was also renamed Kempegowda International Airport on 14 December 2013. The Bangalore Development Authority developed the Nadaprabhu Kempegowda Layout in him memory. The Majestic metro station on the Purple Line of
Bangalore Metro Namma Metro ("Our Metro" in Kannada), also known as Bengaluru Metro, is a rapid transit system serving the city of Bengaluru, India. Upon its inauguration, it became the first underground metro system in South India. Namma Metro has a mix of u ...
was also renamed Nadaprabhu Kempegowda Station., Majestic, in his honour. Educational institutions such as Kempegowda Institute of Medical Sciences, Kempegowda Institute of Physiotherapy, Kempegowda College of Nursing, and
Kempegowda Residential PU College Kempe Gowda I, locally venerated as Nadaprabhu Kempe Gowda, or commonly known as Kempe Gowda, was a chieftain under the Vijayanagara Empire in History of India, early-modern India. He is famous for founding the present-day South India, southern ...
have all been named after Kempe Gowda. A police station and a park in Bangalore are named in his honour. A busy thoroughfare in the city is named Kempegowda Road. Since 2017, the
Government of Karnataka The Government of Karnataka, abbreviated as, GoK, or simply Karnataka Government, is a democratically-elected state body with the governor as the ceremonial head to govern the Southwest Indian state of Karnataka. The governor who is appointed ...
has recognised Kempe Gowda's birth anniversary, or ''Kempe Gowda Jayanthi''. The
Kempegowda Award The Kempegowda Award or Nadaprabhu Kempegowda Award is a civilian award presented annually by Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), Bengaluru, Karnataka, India. The award nomination is based on the notable contributions of civilians, in th ...
, a civic award presented annually by the BBMP, was set up in his memory. On 27 June 2020, commemorating Kempe Gowda's 511th birth anniversary, work on a 108-feet tall Kempe Gowda Statue and a 23-acre central park around the statue formally began with its inauguration by Chief Minister B. S.Yediyurappa at the Kempegowda International Airport. The same was inaugurated by Prime Minister
Narendra Modi Narendra Damodardas Modi (; born 17 September 1950) is an Indian politician serving as the 14th and current Prime Minister of India since 2014. Modi was the Chief Minister of Gujarat from 2001 to 2014 and is the Member of Parliament fro ...
on 11 November 2022 . File:Statue of kempegowda 1609.gif, A metal statue of Kempe Gowda File:Kempegowda.jpg, A statue of Kempe Gowda in Bangalore File:Kempe Gowda Circle, Suranjan Das Road and New Thippasandra or GM Palya Main Road JN.jpg, Kempe Gowda Circle at the junction of Suranjan Das Road and New Thippasandra/GM Palya Main Road File:KempeGowdaTower Lalbagh 0453.JPG, Kempe Gowda Tower at
Lal Bagh Lalbagh Botanical Garden or simply Lalbagh (), is an botanical garden in Bangalore, India, with an over 200-year history. First planned and laid out during the dalavaiship of Hyder Ali and later managed under numerous British Superintendents ...


References


General

* Dr. B. S. Puttaswamy. KEMPEGOWDA OF BENGALURU, 160 pp. Bengaluru: Manoj Publications, 2017. Price 200 INR Released at Dubai. . Cell +919448522310


Further reading

* Puttaswamy, B. S. ''Yalahanka Nadaprabhu Kempegowda Mattu Atana Vamshastaru'',(In Kannada) 240 pp. Bengaluru: Manoj Publications, 2011.


External links


City founder Kempegowda's tomb is traced to Magadi
bangaloremirror.com {{DEFAULTSORT:Kempe Gowda 01 Indian royalty 1510 births 1570 deaths People from Bangalore People of the Vijayanagara Empire 16th-century Indian monarchs History of Bangalore