Gubbi Thotadappa
   HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

Rao Bahadur Rai Bahadur (in North India) and Rao Bahadur (in South India), R.B., was a title of honour bestowed during British Raj, British rule in India to individuals for outstanding service or acts of public welfare to the British Empire, Empire. From ...
"Dharmapravartha" Gubbi Thotadappa (Kannada: ರಾವ್ ಬಹದ್ದೂರ್ ಧರ್ಮಪ್ರವರ್ತ ಗುಬ್ಬಿ ತೋಟದಪ್ಪ), (1838-1910 Gubbi), was an Indian businessman and
philanthropist Philanthropy is a form of altruism that consists of "private initiatives for the public good, focusing on quality of life". Philanthropy contrasts with business initiatives, which are private initiatives for private good, focusing on material ...
. He founded a free lodging place for tourists from across the nation called "Thotadappa Chathra". He was honoured with the title "Dharmapravartha" by the
Maharaja Maharaja (also spelled Maharajah or Maharaj; ; feminine: Maharani) is a royal title in Indian subcontinent, Indian subcontinent of Sanskrit origin. In modern India and Medieval India, medieval northern India, the title was equivalent to a pri ...
of
Mysore Mysore ( ), officially Mysuru (), is a city in the southern Indian state of Karnataka. It is the headquarters of Mysore district and Mysore division. As the traditional seat of the Wadiyar dynasty, the city functioned as the capital of the ...
,
Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV Krishnaraja Wadiyar IV (4 June 1884 – 3 August 1940) was the twenty-fourth Maharaja of Mysore, reigning from 1902 until his death in 1940. Krishnaraja Wadiyar IV is popularly deemed a ''rajarshi'', or 'saintly king', a moniker with which Maha ...
and "
Rao Bahadur Rai Bahadur (in North India) and Rao Bahadur (in South India), R.B., was a title of honour bestowed during British Raj, British rule in India to individuals for outstanding service or acts of public welfare to the British Empire, Empire. From ...
" by the British government.


Early years

Thotadappa was born in 1838 in a
Lingayat The Lingayats are a monotheistic religious denomination of Hinduism. Lingayats are also known as , , , . Lingayats are known for their unique practice of Ishtalinga worship, where adherents carry a personal linga symbolizing a constant, intim ...
family of
Gubbi Gubbi is a town in Tumakuru District, Karnataka, India. It is 20 km from Tumakuru and 90 km from Bengaluru along NH-206 (BH Road). Gubbi ULB (Urban Local Bodies) contains 17 wards and an equal number of councilors. The population of t ...
. His family moved to Bangalore in the later years where he started his business in Mamulpet.


Social work

Having no children of his own, Thotadappa decided to use all his property to the benefit of tourists and students. He founded a trust called Rao Bahadur Dharmapravartha Gubbi Thotadappa Charities (RBDGTC). In 1897, the trust bought a piece of land near
Bangalore City Railway Station Bengaluru City Railway Station, officially Krantivira Sangolli Rayanna Bengaluru Station , also known as Bangalore City Railway Station, KSR Bengaluru Station, or Majestic Railway station (station code: SBC), is the main railway station of Beng ...
and, on 11 Feb 1903, Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV officially opened the Dharmachathra (for visiting tourists) and Free Hostel (for students). During his last days he donated all his property to RBDGTC trust and appointed K. P. Puttanna Chetty as first president of that trust. The trust continues its work today. This hostel facility was extended to all over
Karnataka Karnataka ( ) is a States and union territories of India, state in the southwestern region of India. It was Unification of Karnataka, formed as Mysore State on 1 November 1956, with the passage of the States Reorganisation Act, 1956, States Re ...
. In the year 2005, the hostel was reconstructed. For its centenary the trust built Bell Hotel at
Kempegowda Bus Station Kempegowda Bus Station (KBS) is a integrated main bus station in Bengaluru, India. It is located opposite the KSR Bengaluru railway station. It is bordered by Seshadri Road to the north, Danavanthri Road to the east, Tank Bund Road to the sou ...
as a source of income. The lodging facility offers accommodation at a nominal rate and is open to all, irrespective of their religion. Use of the hostel, however, is exclusive to students belonging to the
lingayat The Lingayats are a monotheistic religious denomination of Hinduism. Lingayats are also known as , , , . Lingayats are known for their unique practice of Ishtalinga worship, where adherents carry a personal linga symbolizing a constant, intim ...
community. To date the hostel has not received
Government A government is the system or group of people governing an organized community, generally a State (polity), state. In the case of its broad associative definition, government normally consists of legislature, executive (government), execu ...
grants Grant or Grants may refer to: People * Grant (given name), including a list of people and fictional characters * Grant (surname), including a list of people and fictional characters ** Ulysses S. Grant (1822–1885), the 18th president of the U ...
. The trust awards
scholarships A scholarship is a form of financial aid awarded to students for further education. Generally, scholarships are awarded based on a set of criteria such as academic merit, diversity and inclusion, athletic skill, and financial need, research ...
for merit to
Lingayat The Lingayats are a monotheistic religious denomination of Hinduism. Lingayats are also known as , , , . Lingayats are known for their unique practice of Ishtalinga worship, where adherents carry a personal linga symbolizing a constant, intim ...
students every year.


Honours

* In 1905, he was given the title "Dharmapravartha" by the Maharaja of Mysore, Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV, for his social services. * In 1910,
George V George V (George Frederick Ernest Albert; 3 June 1865 – 20 January 1936) was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 until Death and state funeral of George V, his death in 1936. George w ...
,
Emperor of India Emperor (or Empress) of India was a title used by British monarchs from 1 May 1876 (with the Royal Titles Act 1876) to 22 June 1948 Royal Proclamation of 22 June 1948, made in accordance with thIndian Independence Act 1947, 10 & 11 GEO. 6. CH ...
, granted him the nobility of "Rao Bahadur".


Death

On 21 February 1910, Thotadappa died at the age of 72.


Influence

*Dr. Sree Sree Sree Shivakumara Swamiji was a student of Thotadappa hostel during the years 1927-1930. * S. Nijalingappa, Karnataka's Fourth
Chief Minister A chief minister is an elected or appointed head of government of – in most instances – a sub-national entity, for instance an administrative subdivision or federal constituent entity. Examples include a state (and sometimes a union ter ...
, was a student of Thotadappa hostel during the years 1921-1924. *The Road in front of
Bangalore City Railway Station Bengaluru City Railway Station, officially Krantivira Sangolli Rayanna Bengaluru Station , also known as Bangalore City Railway Station, KSR Bengaluru Station, or Majestic Railway station (station code: SBC), is the main railway station of Beng ...
was named "Gubbi Thotadappa road" in his honour.


See also

* K. P. Puttanna Chetty * Yele Mallappa Shetty * Sajjan Rao * S. Ramaswami Mudaliar * Janopakari Doddanna Setty


References


External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Thotadappa, Gubbi 1838 births 1910 deaths Businesspeople from Karnataka Rai Bahadurs People from Tumakuru district 19th-century Indian businesspeople 20th-century Indian businesspeople 19th-century Indian philanthropists Indian philanthropists