This talk on Bengaluru Pete : A review was organised by Samyuktha Bharatha & Atharva Forum in collaboration with Revival Heritage Hub, a group dedicated to preservation and conservation of our rich history. Personally, I had been exposed to an earlier work of RHH through Sri. Swaminathan Natarajan on Hebbal Kittaya Inscription, but wasn’t aware that the same team would be talking about my favourite place in the world, Bengaluru.
Dr. Rajeeva Nrupathunga and Sri. Hari Hara Sudan from RHH gave an illuminating talk on the rich ancestry and history of Bengaluru right from the origins of the name to the detailed planning of the city, the historical significance behind each of the landmarks in the city, the rich detailed water distribution plan to the most favourite festival of Bengaluru, Bengaluru Karaga. Along the talk, I learnt a lot more about my own city and just goes on to show how much we don’t know about the city we live in.
The speakers gave a very detailed account of Kempe Gowda’s family origins and how they came to be called Yelahanka Nada Prabhus. The origins of Bengaluru with the 4 bullock carts released on a Sankranthi Day to establish the boundaries of the old Pete was equally interesting as well as the 7 gates around the old city. Kempe Gowda II’s contribution in the creation of lakes and a very advanced water management system was a topic of interest to many. Considering the modern day issues like water scarcity, it was appalling to learn that Bengaluru was conceptualised to be self sustaining from Rains and the interconnected lake system. Oh !! How we have forgotten history and what our ancestors created.
The talk also covered interesting tidbits of history like Kempe Gowda’s imprisonment due to minting of coins to subsequent peace with Adil Shah’s generals and migration of Gowdas to Magadi. Next, Maratha chapter was discussed with interesting landmarks in Bengaluru connecting to Shivaji’s childhood and marriage. Wodeyars buying Bengaluru from Mughals and later British administration with contributions of Cubbon, Bowring and B. L. Rice were discussed in quite elaborate detail. Lastly, but definitely more interestingly, the speakers elaborated on the various festivals of Pete, their social, cultural and perhaps scientific significance. For example, the mound created during Rama Navami has many elements added to the mud to regulate body temperature of the Pailwans.
The speakers proceeded to describe the various preservation, conservation and recording of epigraphic evidences over the past decade. While we could just view the end results, the trials and tribulations of the group was inspirational and awe inspiring. To be a self funded and inspired group wholly dedicated to the preservation of history, their achievements are very remarkable.
I am noting down some interesting points that I captured during the talk:
- Historical accounts were recorded on stitched cloth pieces called “Kai - Fits” during British Time
- Begur Naganatheshwara Temple dating back to 890 AD was originally constructed by Gangas and later developed by Cholas
- Communities from far and wide migrated to Bengaluru due to relatively lower taxes
- Note: In Hampi, taxes were very high and even Prostitutes had to pay taxes (interesting social & economic tidbit)
- There were 108 Bhajan Mandir recorded in Pete as well as 18 Garadi Manes (traditional Gymnasiums)
- During Kempe Gowda’s reign, Central Treasury was in a cave in ShivaGange
- Chikka Deva Raja Wodeyar introduced the “Attara Kacheri" system (18 Departments) for administration
- Dewan Purnaiah introduced the policing concept
- Did you know, NIMHANS is the first such hospital in entire Asia
- After Mahatma Gandhi was cremated, portion of ashes were distributed. One such portion exists still today in Cubbon Pete 12th Gali Bhajana Shale
- Karaga Poojari has to be trained in a traditional Garadi Mane (part of the overall process)
- There are 472 Draupadi temples in South India with 4 in Bengaluru
- 4 Karagas in Bengaluru
- Thigalara Pete (main karaga)
- Kilari Road Karaga
- Kalasipalya Karaga
- Shivajinagar Karaga
I was mesmerized by the very knowledgeable audience who added their own anecdotes which made the overall experience a very rich, illuminating one. I can safely say that this is easily one of the best talks I have attended in the recent times. The only sad part that we were only ~50 people in audience. I wish a talk such as this receives much wider recognition and love from the citizens of this great city. I wish more such talks and Heritage Walks are organised in future.
Publications bought during the talk
Lastly, the talk concluded with a 12-min documentary on Karaga. I am including the link below. Overall, this was one wonderful Sunday spent very well. Very enriching. I hope more such talks are organized in future.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Mtub3SITJA
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