Birth centenary fete of JC Wadiyar begins

Even though the government has not taken any steps, so far, to celebrate the centenary of Jayachamaraja Wadiyar, the last Maharaja of Mysuru and the 25th king of the Yadu dynasty, various organisations have made elaborate arrangements for the celebrations. They have plans for year-long celebrations.

Born on July 18, 1919, to Yuvaraja Narasimharaja Wadiyar and Kempachaluvajammanni, he was named as Chamaraja Wadiyar, in line with the family tradition of naming the heir apparent after ‘Krishna’. ‘Chama’ was the local pronunciation of ‘Shyama’, which denotes Krishna. However, ‘Jaya’, meaning ‘victory’ was added to his name.

He was coronated as the Maharaja on September 8, 1940, following the death of his uncle Nalvadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar (August 3, 1940). He died on September 23, 1974.

Sri Krishna Gana Sabha, Gokulam Third Stage, is celebrating Jayachamaraja Wadiyar’s birth anniversary with a musical ballet ‘Vandeham Shive’ on July 18 (Wednesday), directed by Sukanya Prabhakar; Hindustani vocal by Dr M S Bhaskar on July 21 (Saturday); and Carnatic vocal by Ambujavalli on July 22 (Sunday) at Alwar Kala Bhavan at 6 pm. While the first programme is sponsored by retired director for PU Education B S Sridhar Raje Urs and Kannada and Culture Department; the second programme is sponsored by Lakshmikanth and family and Kannada and Culture Department, and the third one is sponsored by
Kulasekhar and family and Kannada and Culture
Department.

Karnataka Rajya Arasu Mahasabha, K R Mohalla, is garlanding the portrait of Jayachamaraja Wadiyar at Mysuru Palace at 11.30 am. Seer Ilai Alwar Swami of Vangipura mutt, Deputy Director of the Palace Board T S Subramanya, president of Aramane Ulisi Horata Samithi M Ramegowda, Nagaprasannaraje Urs, Sosale Siddaraju and Dr M G R Urs will participate in the programme.

Arasu Mandali Sangha, Agrahara, members will garland the statue of Jayachamaraja Wadiyar at Jayachamaraja Wadiyar Circle (formerly Hardinge Circle) at 11 am on Wednesday.

Arasu Jagruthi Academy, Vidyaranyapuram, has produced a compact disc (CD) containing 79 kritis of Jayachamaraja Wadiyar, which will be released by president of Akhila Bharatha Kshatriya Mahasabha Sridhar Raje Urs on July 20 at 10.45 am at Mysuru Chamber of Commerce and Industries (MCCI) on D Devaraja Urs Road. MLA A S Ramdas will inaugurate the programme while MLA L Nagendra will unveil the portrait of Jayachamaraja Wadiyar. Wadiyar’s son-in-law Rajachandra will deliver the keynote address, general secretary of the academy M Savitha Urs said.

President of the academy Dr M G R Urs said they could collect 100 kritis of Wadiyar and 79 of them have been included in the CD. “Besides being an able administrator, Jayachamaraja Wadiyar was a scholar and expert in many art forms, including Carnatic music. He is a ‘Vaggeyakara’ of the highest standard and they are the popular choice among eminent musicians. Vaggeyakara is a lyricist for the ‘ragas’ (tunes) in Carnatic style of music. The CD also contains the original audio clippings of Wadiyar,” he said.

He said he has spoken to Higher Education Minister
G T Devegowda about the celebration of the centenary on behalf of the government.

“The minister has assured to take up the issue with the government,” he added.