<p>Kempegowda museum that was set up at Mayo Hall in the City in 2009 to educate the future generation about the founder of the Bangalore lies neglected, thanks to the apathy of Bruhat Bangalore Mahangara Palike (BBMP).<br /><br /></p>.<p>At the time of establishing the museum, the BBMP had promised adequate funds for the project to collect information about Kempegowda and trace and purchase antique articles and records of his time. It was also planned to aid research on the City founder, a 16th Century ruler, and disseminate the gathered information among the public.<br /><br />However, after four years, the initial enthusiasm seems to have fizzled out as the still incomplete museum cries for attention. All that the so-called museum has is just the building and a few photographs and a map, which are also gathering dust with no person to maintain them. <br /><br />The old Bangalore map, which is placed in the centre of the museum, is left to its fate as the building leaks whenever it rains. The BBMP has not appointed a person to look after the museum, which has no staff after its special officer resigned.<br /><br />The BBMP ‘forced’ Devara Konda Reddy, who was in charge of the museum, to resign making ‘baseless’ allegation against him. He has now filed a contempt petition against the Palike for not paying him salary.<br /><br />Reddy, who was part of the project, was appointed special officer of the museum in January 2011 after his predecessor Dayanand Patel resigned soon after the museum was set up in 2009. Reddy, a retired professor from Kannada University at Hampi, was a member of the committee that was set up to study Kempegowda and establish a museum. <br /><br />The committee was set up in 2001 when Prema Cariappa was the mayor. After being appointed special officer on January 14, 2011, a salary of Rs 15,000 was fixed for Reddy. Tall promises were made to him on allocation of funds to purchase articles belonging to Kempegowda’s period and display them at the museum. <br /><br />However, there was no much progress thereafter despite repeated request for funds by the special officer. “I was not given salary since the day of my appointment, for a period of one-and-a-half years. <br /><br />The then Mayor D Venkatesh Murthy went to the extent of saying that I spend my time writing stories and novels. I was pained by such allegations and resigned,” Reddy told Deccan Herald. “I am not a literary person to write novels. I am a historian. My duty is to conduct research,” he added.<br /><br />According to officials at Indian Council of Historical Research, the concept of Kempegowda museum is good. But, unless funds are allocated, it will never be a reality. <br /><br />“There are people with Kempegowda collections. They will give it to only when you pay them,” said an official on condition of anonymity.<br /></p>
<p>Kempegowda museum that was set up at Mayo Hall in the City in 2009 to educate the future generation about the founder of the Bangalore lies neglected, thanks to the apathy of Bruhat Bangalore Mahangara Palike (BBMP).<br /><br /></p>.<p>At the time of establishing the museum, the BBMP had promised adequate funds for the project to collect information about Kempegowda and trace and purchase antique articles and records of his time. It was also planned to aid research on the City founder, a 16th Century ruler, and disseminate the gathered information among the public.<br /><br />However, after four years, the initial enthusiasm seems to have fizzled out as the still incomplete museum cries for attention. All that the so-called museum has is just the building and a few photographs and a map, which are also gathering dust with no person to maintain them. <br /><br />The old Bangalore map, which is placed in the centre of the museum, is left to its fate as the building leaks whenever it rains. The BBMP has not appointed a person to look after the museum, which has no staff after its special officer resigned.<br /><br />The BBMP ‘forced’ Devara Konda Reddy, who was in charge of the museum, to resign making ‘baseless’ allegation against him. He has now filed a contempt petition against the Palike for not paying him salary.<br /><br />Reddy, who was part of the project, was appointed special officer of the museum in January 2011 after his predecessor Dayanand Patel resigned soon after the museum was set up in 2009. Reddy, a retired professor from Kannada University at Hampi, was a member of the committee that was set up to study Kempegowda and establish a museum. <br /><br />The committee was set up in 2001 when Prema Cariappa was the mayor. After being appointed special officer on January 14, 2011, a salary of Rs 15,000 was fixed for Reddy. Tall promises were made to him on allocation of funds to purchase articles belonging to Kempegowda’s period and display them at the museum. <br /><br />However, there was no much progress thereafter despite repeated request for funds by the special officer. “I was not given salary since the day of my appointment, for a period of one-and-a-half years. <br /><br />The then Mayor D Venkatesh Murthy went to the extent of saying that I spend my time writing stories and novels. I was pained by such allegations and resigned,” Reddy told Deccan Herald. “I am not a literary person to write novels. I am a historian. My duty is to conduct research,” he added.<br /><br />According to officials at Indian Council of Historical Research, the concept of Kempegowda museum is good. But, unless funds are allocated, it will never be a reality. <br /><br />“There are people with Kempegowda collections. They will give it to only when you pay them,” said an official on condition of anonymity.<br /></p>
