Yes, our homage should go to him

THE PIONEER: There were four Kempe Gowdas and it was the first who founded Bangalore. — FILE PHOTO: SAMPATH KUMAR G.P.
THE PIONEER: There were four Kempe Gowdas and it was the first who founded Bangalore. — FILE PHOTO: SAMPATH KUMAR G.P.

This year even as we’re celebrating the 500th birth anniversary of Kempe Gowda I, there is some confusion among the people over which Kempe Gowda founded our city, considering four Kempe Gowda ruled over the region for over two centuries.

Historians are unanimous that it was Kempe Gowda I (1513-1569) who is the architect of Bangalore. His ancestors immigrated from Kanchipuram after falling out with the ruler there and settled on the outskirts of what was later to be Bangalore.

Yelahanka beginnings

Kempe Gowda I, who was in charge of Yelahanka, built a mud fort in 1537 and with the help of the king Achchutaraya of the Vijayanagar Empire, built the little towns of Balepet, Cottonpet and Chickpet inside the fort. Today, these areas are thriving commercial market places.

According to historians, it was Kempe Gowda I who annexed Ulsoor and Hesaraghatta and erected the Ulsoor Gate, Sondekoppa gate, Yelahanka gate and Anekal gate.

King Achchutaraya granted him the neighbouring villages of Begur, Jigani, Varthur, Kengeri, Banavara and Kumbalgod, besides many hamlets. Kempe Gowda built the cave temple of Gavi Gangadhareshwara at Gavipuram, the Bull Temple in Basavanagudi, Kempambudhi tank and Dharmambudhi tank.

The four towers

He famously built four towers near the present Ulsoor lake, Kempambudhi lake, Lalbagh and Mekhri circle to mark the outmost boundaries of Bangalore. Though the city has grown far beyond these boundaries, the towers still fascinate people.

Kempe Gowda I’s successor Kempe Gowda II built the Ulsoor lake, Sampangi tank, Ranganatha Temple of Balepet and augmented the Someshwara Temple of Ulsoor. He built colonies such as Tigalarpet and Kumbarpet to ensure their welfare.

The capitals

According to S.K. Aruni, Chairperson, Indian Council for Historical Research (ICHR), it was Kempe Gowda I, who shifted the capital from Yelahanka to Bangalore; Kempe Gowda II shifted it from Bangalore to Magadi.

Four Kempe Gowdas have ruled this region. While first three chieftains are Kempe Gowda I, II and III, the fourth was Kempa Nanje Gowda.

Chiranjeev Singh, retired IAS officer and member of the consultative committee for the Kempe Gowda Museum, also backs Kempe Gowda I as the architect of Bangalore: he and his team did in-depth research before setting up the Kempe Gowda museum.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> National> Karnataka / by Muralidhara Khajane / Bangalore – May 10th, 2011

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