Known as the  ‘Kannada Kanva’ for his guardianship of Kannada literature, B M Shri’s mother’s native was Sampige village of Turuvekere taluk. He spent his childhood days here.

The demand of local litterateurs and villagers for a memorial in the name of B M Shri in this village has been there since last 20 years.

When the present Secretary of Kannada and Culture I M Vittal Murthy, was the deputy commissioner of Tumkur, he had assured that B M Shri Bhavan would be established in the village, but the work did not begin. But the local organisations made representation to the Government and the local MLA. Finally the proposal was taken during the Suvarna Karnataka (2006-07) year.

A tiled-roof house of more than 100 years, in possession of Sowmya Nayakamma, a relative of B M Shri’s mother, was demolished. But the work of constructing of the Bhavan stopped midway. Following this B M Shri’s family and Sowmya Nayak moved the court for the delay in constructing the Bhavan.

A notice was issued by the court to the district administration about a year and a half ago.

The district administration woke up and took steps for the construction of the Bhavan.

Former Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy during his tenure released Rs 10 lakh in two instalments, but the money was not adequate for the construction of the Bhavan. Some hope came from the local legislator but did not become a reality.

Only 70 per cent of the work on the Bhavan is completed, says the authorities in the charge of the construction. It is eight months since the worked has stopped.

The cost of building materials and construction is escalating day by day. The cost of construction is likely to increase in the coming days and there is a need to speed up construction of the Bhavan.