Urs birth centenary: CM to launch programmes at Kalahalli on Aug 20

Social Welfare Minister H Anjaneya visited former chief minister D Devaraj Urs’ native place Kalahalli in Hunsur taluk and also inspected a few places in the city on Thursday in view of the birth centenary celebrations of Urs, scheduled to be launched on August 20.

Presiding over a meeting of officials convened to chalk out plans for the celebrations, he said Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is scheduled to launch the celebrations at Kalahalli paying rich tributes to the tomb of Devaraja Urs, who is often described as the champion of backward classes.

Committee formed

It is a coincidence that the birth centenary of Urs has come when another Mysurean is the chief minister, Anjaneya said. A high-power committee, headed by Siddaramaiah, has been constituted to oversee the celebrations.

Former chief ministers S M Krishna and M Veerappa Moily, Congress leader in Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge, and others are members of the committee. Similarly, an executive committee, headed by former MP A H Vishwanath, has been constituted in Mysuru to organise the inaugural event, he added.

“After visiting Kalahalli, the chief minister will attend a public function in Hunsur town, where he is expected to announce adoption of the village to be developed as a model village, following an appeal in this regard by MLA H P Manjunath.

The government is planning to establish a memorial for Urs on a two acre plot at a cost of Rs 5 crore in Hunsur and the chief minister is expected to lay foundation stone for it,” he
said.

He said the celebrations will be held across the State throughout the year and the grand finale will be on August 20, 2016, in Bengaluru and national-level leaders are expected to attend the valedictory function.

“The government is planning to build hostels for students in all districts in the name of Devaraj Urs. A book in memory of the leader and also an album, compiling his photographs, have been planned. An award has been instituted in his name and a search committee, headed by a former vice-chancellor, is scouting for a suitable person to receive it, during the launch of the celebrations,” he said. Elaborating on the celebrations, Anjaneya said it will resemble the Dasara festivities. “A theme song, audio-visual presentations, documentary film, etc, will be part of the celebrations. Media, including private satellite channels, will be roped in for the purpose,” he added.

Zilla Panchayat President Pushpa Amarnath, former MP A H Vishwanath, Principal Secretary for Social Justice and Empowerment and Backward Class Welfare Shalini Rajaneesh, Deputy Commissioner C Shikha, Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officer P A Gopal, Archeology, Museums and Heritage Commissioner C G Betsurmath, Superintendent of Police Abhinav Khare and others were among those present in the meeting.