NEWS – 515 Kempe Gowda Jayanthi celebrated

ABOUT NADAPRABHU KEMPE GOWDA

Nadaprabhu Hiriya Kempe Gowda, popularly known as Kempe Gowda, was a feudal ruler under the Vijayanagara Empire. Well educated, Kempe Gowda was a successor of Kempananje Gowda, who were the descendants of the Morasu Gowda lineage. They were known as the rulers of Yelhankanadu. The most famous of the Yelahanka Nadu Prabhus is Kempe Gowda I, who ruled for 46 years, from 1513 to 1559. He planned and successfully implemented the building of Bengaluru Fort and Bengaluru Pete.

EARLY LIFE

• Birth and Lineage: Hiriya Kempe Gowda was born in the Yelahanka suburb of Bangalore into the Morasu Vokkaliga community. His father was Kempananje Gowda, the ruler of Yelhanka for more than 70 years.
• Education: Kempe Gowda was educated for nine years at a gurukula in Aivarukandapura (or Aigondapura), a village near Hesaraghatta.
• Ancestry: Sources vary on the ancestry of Kempe Gowda. Some state that the Morasu Vokkaligas were Telugu migrants, while others say they were originally from Karnataka or Tamil-speaking from Kanchi, serving in the Vijayanagara armies.
• Succession: Fourth in succession from Rana Bhairave Gowda, founder of the Avati Nadu dynasty, Kempe Gowda assumed the chieftaincy of Yalahanka Nadu from his father in 1513 and reigned for 46 years.
• Conquests: In 1526, he conquered the Sivaganga principality and annexed Domlur. With permission from the Vijayanagar Emperor Achyutharaya, he built Bangalore Fort and the town in 1537, moving his capital to the new Bengaluru Pete.
• Conflict and Resolution: Fearing Kempe Gowda’s rise in power, a neighboring poleygar lodged a complaint with Emperor Sadashiva Raya, leading to his imprisonment for five years. After his release, he was returned his territories and later bestowed nearby villages by the emperor

STORY BEHIND BENGALURU

1. Kempegowda’s Boundary Marking

• Legend: Kempegowda, the founder of Bengaluru, ran four bullock carts in four directions.
• Boundary Points: The stopping points of the carts were marked to indicate the city’s boundaries.
• Starting Point: The center of Chickpete was the starting point.
• Perfect Circle: When connected, the four points formed a perfect circle.

2. Evolution of the City’s Name

• Original Name: The city was originally called ‘Bendakaalooru,’ meaning ‘baked beans.’
• Name Changes: Over time, the name evolved to become Bengaluru.

3. Four Towers

• Four towers were built at Mekhri circle, Lalbagh, Gavipuram, and Ulsoor as boundary points.
• Kempegowda’s son identified the four

4. Traders’ Regions and Their Names

• Naming Convention: Areas were named based on the materials sold there:
  • Akkipete: Known for rice.
  • Balepete: Known for bangles.
  • Ragipete: Known for millet.
  • Aralepete: Known for cotton.
• Current Status: Some old names still exist, but the areas no longer sell those goods exclusively.

5. Similarities with Old London City

• Comparison: Old Bengaluru Pete and old London City have notable similarities.
• Street Names:
  • London: Milk Street, Bread Street, Mason Avenue, Ironmonger Lane.
  • Bengaluru: Akkipete, Balepete, Ragipete, Aralepete.

6. The Nine Gates of Bengaluru

• Gates in Bengaluru:
  • Halasuru Gate
  • Yelahanka Gate
  • Kengeri Gate
  • Others
• Comparison to London: Similar to London’s gates like Ludgate, Newgate, Aldgate, and Bishopsgate.

7. Bengaluru Fort

• Original Fort: Kempegowda built a mud fort in 1537, now called Bangalore Fort in City Market.
• Stone Fort: Replaced by a stone fort in 1761 by Mysuru King Hyder Ali.