DKS unveils grand plans for Kempegowda Jayanti this year

Bengaluru: The new building that will house the headquarters of the Kempegowda Development Authority in Sumanahalli will reflect the rich cultural heritage of Bengaluru, announced Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Monday.

The Deputy CM, who also holds the Bengaluru Development portfolio, said that the foundation stone for the new headquarters would be laid on June 27 – Kempegowda Jayanti. Shivakumar, who chaired a high-level meeting at the Vidhana Soudha to discuss preparations for the commemorative event, said that the new building would be erected on a five-acre plot in Sumanahalli.

From each of the four towers around Bengaluru that Kempegowda erected, a ceremonial torch would be brought to Sumanahalli, announced Shivakumar. The deputy CM added that the central event organised by the government to mark Kempegowda Jayanti would be held at Babu Jagjivan Ram Bhavan on the morning of June 27. The ceremony for the distribution of Kempegowda Awards would also be held on the same day, added Shivakumar. “We are drafting guidelines to ensure the awards are given to deserving candidates,” he added.

The meeting was attended by more than 150 leaders of the Vokkaliga community, including many prominent women leaders, all of whom offered their suggestions on how to best commemorate Kempegowda’s anniversary.

The Deputy CM also added that he would confer with Minister for School Education and Literacy Madhu Bangarappa about including lessons on Nadaprabhu Kempegowda in the textbooks.

Shivakumar said that a tableau featuring Kempegowda would make an appearance in the Mysuru Dasara procession this year. “This is a conscious effort to weave the legacy of Kempegowda into Karnataka’s collective cultural memory,” said the Deputy CM, adding that the Department of Kannada and Culture would provide financial support for celebrating Kempegowda Jayanti in every Assembly Constituency.

“Competitions will be organised in schools to educate students about Kempegowda’s role in Bengaluru’s history,” he added.

On the theme park proposed around Kempegowda’s statue at the international airport, Shivakumar said, “The BJP government erected the statue, but the contractors were left unpaid. I don’t want to go into that now. We will focus on developing the surrounding area.”