City all set to host Urs' birth centenary today

CM to launch a slew of programmes; theme song released

 The State government is all set to host the year-long birth centenary celebrations of former chief minister D Devaraj Urs in the city on Thursday.

On the eve of the ceremony on Wednesday, the theme song of the celebrations was released at the deputy commissioner’s office.

The 12-minute theme song penned by Ravi Kumaranapura, begins with the journey of Urs from Kallahalli (his native place in Hunsur taluk in the district). It also highlights various programmes implemented by Urs during his tenure as chief minister. 

It includes Land Reforms Act, abolition of bonded labour system, land for tillers, loan waiver, christening the then Mysore State as Karnataka, pension scheme for elderly and widows, bringing in revolutionary systems in education sector among others.

As many as six singers, including the lyricist Ravi, vocalist Poorvaj Vishwanath, son of former Mysuru and Kodagu MP A H Vishwanath, also the Chairman of Executive Committee for D Devaraj Urs Birth Centenary celebrations, former MLA S Balaraj, three other singers R Mahendar, Rakshita and George Prabhakar have lent their voice to the song. Manoranjan Prabhakar has composed the music.

Stageset                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will inaugurate the celebrations at Open Air Theatre, Manasagangotri here at 3 pm. Seating arrangements have been made for not less than 10,000 people.

Social Welfare Minister H Anjaneya, Women and Child Development Minister Umashree, Revenue and District In-charge Minister V Srinivas Prasad, former Union ministers M Mallikarjun Kharge and Oscar Fernandes and a battery of ministers and Congress leaders expected to attend the ceremony.

The annual D Devaraj Urs Award will be conferred on former minister R L Jalappa and special gallantry award on Dy SP (Retd) K S Sadanand.

Prior to the main programme, the chief minister will visit Hunsur town at 11.15 pm, where he is scheduled to garland the statue of Urs, followed by groundbreaking ceremony for a Bhavan to be named after the former chief minister. It will be followed by a visit to Kallahalli, the native place of Urs at 12 noon. The chief minister will pay his respects to the grave of Urs. He will announce the decision of the government to adopt the village to be developed as a model for others in the State.

The ancestral house of Urs will also be developed, the process for which will be hastened during the chief minister’s visit.