From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Bengaluru, Jun 5: Mines and Geology Minister and Kalaburgi district in charge minister Murugesh R Nirani has requested Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa to take steps to make future generations remember the legendary Mysore king Shri Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar.
He made several suggestions including celebration of birth anniversary of Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar who laid the foundation for modern industrial growth in Karnataka.
Nirani in his letter to Yediyurappa on the occasion of 137th birth anniversary of Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar, said it was necessary to make future generations learn the greatness of the Maharaja.
“Steps should be taken to include lessons on Shri Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar in the text books for primary school, high school, pre-university and degree colleges. The State government should conduct his birth anniversary events and June 4 as Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar Jayanti. The birth anniversary of Shri Wadiyar who started many industries should also be celebrated as ‘Industries Day’ in the State,’’ Nirani suggested.
The Mines and Geology Minister also requested the government to erect statues of Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar at important locations across the State.
“Statues of Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar will help tourists learn about his greatness. It was during his time that the idle ‘Praja Prathinidhi Sabha’ was transformed into the real forum of people’s representatives,” Nirani said in his letter.
Lauding Wadiyar’s pioneering achievements in the erstwhile Mysore State, Nirani said the credit must go to Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar for starting Asia’s first hydro power project. He further added that Bengaluru got street lights in 1905 due to his efforts. Setting up of Mysore University was another great achievement of Wadiyar, extolled Nirani.
Nirani said hundreds of hospitals were constructed due to his efforts. “Shri Wadiyar built 270 hospitals across the state. Minto eye hospital in Bengaluru had attained global fame and tuberculosis hospital in Mysuru was modified and the Mysore bank functioned with private partnership. Government should consider all these factors and take steps to restore his legacy,” Nirani requested in his letter to Chief Minister.