Nalwadi's contributions must be acknowledged: Dwarakanath

'UoM should be renamed after Wadiyar'

Former chairman of the Karnataka State Commission for Backward Classes C S Dwarakanath raised a pertinent question when he asked as to why maharaja Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar has not been accorded due credit for constructing the Krishnaraja Sagar dam across River Cauvery, just as former chief minister Kengal Hanumanthaiah has been acknowledged for constructing Vidhana Soudha.

He was speaking during the birth anniversary celebrations of Nalwadi organised by the University of Mysore at the Crawford Hall here on Friday. “Those opposing the facts in the book ‘Naanu Kannambadi Katte’, written by retired Hindi professor P V Nanjaraje Urs, should prove the facts false to claim full credit to renowned engineer-administrator Sir M Visvesvaraya. It is true that Visvesvaraya was one of the eight persons who worked hard for the construction of the KRS dam. But, the KRS dam was a result of the concern and sacrifice of Nalwadi,” he said.

“Nalwadi has been relegated to the background by people influenced by retrograde Vaidhika mentality. Such minds are still working against Nalwadi. The maharaja, who strived to make Mysuru the most developed state in the whole of the Indian sub-continent, has been neglected. His pro-people initiatives should be highlighted at least now,” he said.

Dwarakanath said that Nalwadi is comparable to Sahu Maharaj and Jyothiba Phule when it comes to expressing concern for the backward classes. “Nalwadi strived to eradicate the Devadasi system. He built veterinary hospitals, the Mysuru Medical College and Hospital, Maternity Hospitals, etc. It has to be recalled that he established the Mysuru Medical College when the students of Mysuru state were denied seats in the Madras Medical College. He established the modern judiciary system. He built a school for the untouchables in Sringeri,” he said.

“Nalwadi was keenly observing the non-Brahmin movements across the sub-continent. He helped development of technologies that facilitated growth of the silk sector which supported the farmers. He provided scholarships to students of backward and minority communities pursuing medical education. He was leading a social revolution during his times,” he said.