I was wondering how do I start this blog about a man who has given everything and still not been recognized enough by the government of Karnataka or India for his contributions no textbook really mentions him or his contribution well, A bharat ratna even before the award was created.It’s terrible that our children are not able to learn the real history and being fed with agendas rather than knowledge…….but anyway that another topic to talk about some other time
“If India ever attains freedom, it will be because of rulers like Krishnaraja Wodeyar. He is a Rajarshi, a king who is also a saint” – Mahatma Gandhiji.
“A true philosopher king, the Maharaja of Mysore is not only a ruler of men but also a man of science and philosophy.” – Albert Einstein.
“Mysore is the best administered state in the world.” – Lord Sankey.
“Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV was a model ruler, whose life was one of simplicity, goodness, and devotion to his people’s welfare.” – C.Rajgopalachari .
These statements by some greats of our nation and across the world at the time shows the stature of a Saintly King or a ‘Rajarshi’ whose name was MAHARAJA SRI NALWADI KRISHNARAJA WODEYAR BAHADUR.
A true pioneer of people people an avid musician ,a great statesman,adminstrator, wise and strong willed person but also at the time he’s a Golden hearted kind man who was always there for his people and always put the state’s need over his own a lesson which would be coming to our generation and the next in a hard way ,as we take things lighter the lesson gets harder is what i truly believe.
HH Maharaja Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wodeyar Bahadur
Childhood :
Maharaja Nalwadi was born to Maharaja Sri chamarajendra Wodeyar X and the Maharani Srimathi Vani Vilasa Sannidhana Kempananjammani on 4th June 1884 and had a brother whose name is spoken about by many in banglore but never know the history of the name the famous ‘Kanteerava’ stadium is named in the honor of Sri Yuvaraja Kanteerava Narsimharaja Wodeyar.
Sri Nalwadi ascended the throne at a tender age of 11 as his father passed away at the age of 36 due to Diptheria at an international conference at Kolkata.
Due to his barrier his mother Maharani Kempananjammanni looked after the administration until he attainted adulthood as a alliance with the britishers was a crucial part for the development of Mysore people often forget that there are always some great people even in the worst of conditions, even they made some significant contributions in education,health,social welfare and development of our nation in someway their greed and colonizing of the natives can hardly be forgotten or even forgiven by many.
As I made some deeper research on Maharaja it makes me wonder how is it that we had such great hard and honest men who were really strong in back those days to what a weak society we are turning out to be, it is documented that he was studying close to 15 hours a day for a staggering 6 years !!! He was been given a tour around the state from villages to courts for him to understand the nature of things but also the people, A large part of this ‘On-site’ project as we call it today was undertaken under the guidance of Sir Stuart Fraser.
In honor of Fraser contribution to the kingdom of mysore a Fraser Patna was constructed which is nothing but what we call Frazer town today.
Source:Raja ravi verma heritage foundation
Yuvaraja Krishnaraja wodeyar with his sisters Pricess jayalakshmi ammani and Krishnarajammani
Marriage and ascending to throne :
The marriage of a King apparent is filled with huge feasts and celebrations for days back in the day it used to go on for 5-7 days the royal wedding was held in the Jaganmohan Palace which is now turned into an art gallery.
Maharaja Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wodeyar was married to Maharani Prathapa kumari devi of Kathiawar(Presently in Gujurat) on June 6th 1990 with many Royal family members, dignitaries from both the court of maharaja and the East India Company.
Even though he was ascended to the throne in the year 1895 it was not official until 1902, In 1902 with everyone’s consent that is the Gurus of the court and the British administration,Maharaja Sri Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wodeyar ascended the throne as the 24th King of the Yadu Vamsha and the Kingdom of Mysore.
This not only marked the start of a reign but marked the Golden period of Mysore as many historians call it.
Source: The Ganesha Shivaswamy Foundation
HH Maharaja Nalwadi Krishnaraja wodeyar and Maharani Kumari Devi
The reign (1902-1940): A reign often referred to as ‘Golden period of Wodeyar Dynasty’ ,when maharaja ascended the throne mysore was already a progressive state thanks to his Father 23rd Maharaja Sri chamarajendra Wodeyar X mysore was making some great progress. As they say in kannada ” ತಂದೆಗೆ ತಕ್ಕ ಮಗ” A son just like his father Sri Nalwadi only made reach it’s highest glory during his time.
More than a King he was a Humanitarian who thought from he common man’s perspective creation of Dams, lakes , hospitals, Administrative assemblies buildings,social and educational reforms,Mysore and Banglore assemblies the list goes on here are some of his major contributions in terms of development given below:
1) Construction and Development :
- Shivanasamudra Power Plant (1902) – First in Asia
- Vani Vilas Sagar Dam (1907)
- Krishnasagara Dam (1911)
- Mysore Silk Factory (1912)
- Amba Vilas Palace (1912)
- Mysore Sandal Soap factory (1916)
- Sandalwood Oil Factory (1917)
- Bhadravathi Steel Plant (1923)
- Road Construction form south to north karnataka( 1902-1940)
2) Educational Institutions Established by Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV :
- Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore (1909) (Joint contribution with J.N. Tata)
- Hebbal Agricultural School (Now University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore) – 1913
- University of Mysore (1916)
- Maharani’s College for Women, Mysore (1917)
- Mysore Medical College (1924)
- Maharaja’s College, Mysore – Expanded under his reign (affiliated with University of Mysore in 1916)
- Sanskrit College, Mysore – Expanded under his reign ( Built in 1876)
- Maharani’s College for Women, Mysore (1917)
3) Hospitals built and expanded during his reign:
- Krishnarajendra Hospital (KR Hospital), Mysore – 1927
- Cheluvamba Hospital, Mysore – 1939
- Victoria Hospital, Bangalore – Expanded under his reign (originally established in 1900, expansion during the early 20th century)
- Vanivilas Women and Children’s Hospital, Bangalore – Expanded during his reign
- Bowring and Lady Curzon Hospital, Bangalore – Expanded under his reign
4) Socioreforms :
- Abolishing of child marriage
- Promotion of removal of untouchability
- He supported many backward class missions to improve their conditions of living
- Built houses for people who lost houses during the dam construction
- Road construction across the state and many more contributions which have been forgotten or never documented.
5) Economic reforms:
- He created the first Bicameral legislative system (basically Upper house and lower house ) which consisted of Mysore Legislative assembly created by his father and Mysore Legislative council which was established in 1907 together these were formed into a magnificent power house which was used to solve for many problems related to people.
- He also implemented the progressive tax income system way before our iron lady indhra gandhi did it, the whole concept was people with small farms should not face any difficulties and also everyone pays a fair part of their share.
- He encouraged the diversification of the economy by promoting industries such as handloom weaving, carpentry, and pottery, which provided additional income sources for rural communities.
Due to all these above given developments at the age where things were hard and people really men and women he made things look so easy making people think if such things are even possible to be done a single man, disguising as a commoner to understand his subjects, giving away 1000s of acres land for development,facing the 1930s faminine of karnataka ,women empowerment, uplifting the depressed classes and always being a man of the people made Maharaja Sri Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wodeyar one of the most prominent figures of the Wodeyar Dynasty and also of modern India,to add to his extreme achievements Mysore was said to be an ideal state of the world in one the Legislative assemblies in London.
Even today many of these industries and reforms stand tall and have been generating massive income for the state’s GDP and sadly into the pockets of some undeserving and ungrateful politicians, as Gandhiji mentioned ” If only we had many more raja’s like Nalwadi Krihsnaraja wodeyar we wouldn’t need a government in India”
Music interest :
Being a great statesman and a revolutionary leader Maharaja was also an established musician himself , he also had some legendary musician in his court.
He tried to bring in his love for western music and Carnatic music in a form of fusion giving birth to Mysore Palace Orchestra a legendary orchestra which has still been played during the Dasara celebrations.
Some promient names of his court were Veene Sheshanna(Veene),Bidram Krishnappa (Violin),T Chowdiah,Palghat Puttanna (Mridangam) and many more.
He was the first person to bring many western instruments to the region and not only did he bring them he made sure his courtesans were well educated in the field they chose and given the highest form of training which was required for them.
Source: Google
In frame : Veene Sheshanna
HH Nalwadi krishnaraja wodeyar bahadur departed from us in 1940 due to heart attack on 3rd August 1940 and was succeeded by HH Jayachamrajendra Wodeyar Bahadur who was also the last king to rule the state of mysore.
HH Nalwadi krishnaraja wodeyar will always be remembered and revered by all people for his contribution, many people across the mysore region keep him in the Pooja room at their house and pray him alongside God shows the extent to which this great man has reached the hearts of people and can truly be called ‘Rajarshi’.