Colonel W L Crawford has left an indelible mark on the people of Karnataka as the building that houses University of Mysore offices, a hospital in Hassan and several educational institutions have been named after him.
After a long gap of 61 years, David Crawford Lake, Colonel W L Crawford’s nephew and his son James Crawford Lake, visited Manjarabad Club in Sakleshpur and were extended a warm reception by members.
The beautiful Crawford Hall which houses the administrative section and the convocation hall of the Mysore University was named after W L Crawford and C S Crawford, two brothers who contributed Rs 1 lakh to the university, given their affection for Mysore where they had spent many years. W L Crawford was a coffee planter in Hassan district.
David, who was born and brought up in Sakleshpur, was a 10-year-old boy when he left for England in 1955. The Vartihuli Estate in Sakleshpur taluk is his birthplace. He settled down in England after his mother Helen sold the estate to Chengappa, who was a Chief Conservator of Forest at Andaman and Nicobar islands.
When David was researching his family tree, he contacted Chengappa’s family who invited the Crawfords to India. James said he wanted to fulfil his father’s wish of visiting his birthplace and thus sought the help of Chengappa family.
David went down memory lane and recalled his childhood in the estate house, indulging in fishing at Kempuhole, moving around Sakleshpur in a Chevrolet car and visiting coffee estates with his mother Helen.
David said Sakelshpur would still be his favourite place and that he was proud to have spent his early days here. “I have returned after 61 years and find it difficult to remember much about my birthplace except the roads, the house I lived in, Siddegowda’s shop and Manjarabad Club,” he reminisced. He said he was overwhelmed by the hospitality extended to him by the people of the taluk.
David heaped praises on his uncle and appreciated that he stayed in India till his death. David was also impressed to see the colonel’s photos at the hospital and at Manjarabad Club.