3 greats of B’luru conferred Kempegowda Int’l Award

NT Correspondent Bengaluru: Former Chief Minister S M Krishna, Infosys founder N R Narayan Murthy, and Badminton legend Prakash Padukone have conferred the maiden Kempegowda International Award on Monday.

Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai handed them the award, instituted by the state government in honour of Kempegowda, founder of Bengaluru, for their contribution to the growth of the city. Sudha Murty on behalf of Narayan Murthy and Badminton coach U Vimal Kumar on behalf of Padukone received the award which carries a purse of Rs five lakh.

Speaking on the occasion, marking the 513th birth anniversary of Kempegowda, Bommai said a good tradition has been started to remember the person who founded Bengaluru city. “I consider that today is the day to introspect how we have shaped the city. Kempegowda brought together many villages and helped communities to grow here. This is the sign of a person with far sightedness,” the Chief Minister said.

The CM promised to get a statue of Kempegowda installed in the Vidhana Soudha premises within a year. The Minister for Higher Education C N Ashwath Narayan said, “A committee selected personalities who have contributed immensely to the development of Bengaluru for the award.”

Former CM S M Krishna received the award and said that cities like Mysuru, Hubballi and Shivamogga should also be developed further.

City pays tribute to its founder

The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) Administrator Rakesh Singh and Chief Commissioner Tushar Giri Nath paid their respects to the statue situated in NR Square, in front of the BBMP Head Office.

They were joined by the Managing Director of BMRCL Anjum Parwez, BDA Commissioner Rajesh Gowda, BWSSB Chairman N Jayaram, Managing Director of Bengaluru Smart City Ltd Rajendra Cholan and all the Special Commissioners of the BBMP.

The officials also paid respects to the statue of Maha Tyagi Lakshmi Devi (or Lakshmamma), who was Kempegowda’s daughter-in-law.

Kempegowda Jayanti was also celebrated near his statue at Ramana Maharshi Park in Sadashivanagar. This is also the site of one of the four watchtowers built by Kempegowda in four corners of the old city.