A Few Public Organizations (Part 4)

There were two major social conventions that took place within eight years spanning between 1920–28: (i) Prajamitra Mandali or the unrest in favour of non-brahmin sections, Miller Committee, etc. belong to this group and (ii) Progressive Party.

I’ve said everything that I could about the first group. The second one, was specifically a result of Krishna Rao’s efforts. Commemoration of the Late Hosakoppa Krishna Rao is bound to be a part of the history of Mysore’s public life.

He probably stepped into the sphere of public life sometime around 1913–14, which was also the beginning of Sir M Visvesvaraya’s tenure as Diwan. Back then, Krishna Rao was a young member of Citizens Representative Assembly. Elegant in style; a slim, tall man; gleaming eyes; grinning face; and dressed according to the day’s fashion. A woollen suit tailored to fit well, necktie, white Mysore peta (turban) with a golden border, a silk handkerchief glancing out of his pocket, a watch in one of his waist coat pockets connected to another pocket by means of a golden chain, rings on his finger – all these added charm to his character. Hosakoppa Krishna Rao was a zamindar, a coffee planter; an affluent individual who also had affluent relatives going by the standards of those days. It was a custom those days for a few members of the assembly to make request and read out a memorandum after the Diwan had completed his speech on the first day of the Citizens Representative Assembly. On one such instance, Hosakoppa Krishna Rao had addressed a memorandum to Visvesvaraya. That memorandum booklet was printed and well-bound, on a paper the size of trump cards or what was more famously known as a ‘ladies visiting card.’ Since this was a rare article, it caught the attention of nearly everyone. I’ve heard that Visvesvaraya invited him over to his office the next day to have a talk with him. Many people who knew Visvesvaraya would have guessed that he might have been impressed by such a well-dressed gentleman who was so passionate about his duties. At the time of meeting him, Visvesvaraya noticed that Krishna Rao wasn’t a man who knew English. He was astonished to know that someone so fashionable in his dressing sense and conduct didn’t know English. Krishna Rao was an ingenious person too. Visvesvaraya then advised him to learn English, participate in social affairs, and gradually qualify to be a part of national leadership. This advice appealed to Krishna Rao. Then on, his involvement in progressive politics saw a steep rise.

He gained significant English proficiency in four to five years. His eloquence and oratory prowess in Kannada grew more impactful. His knowledge in politics gradually strengthened. He founded a political entity called the Progressive Party. This organisation comprised mainly of people who were the members of Citizen Representative Assembly. Krishna Rao undertook quite a few promotional ventures under the umbrella of this organisation. He addresses contemporary public issues by avidly publishing his Kannada and English articles in newspapers. He also published a colossal book on organisation of Indian politics. I remember that the book also included a section addressing the design of Indian flag.

He had hired a few people to assist him in writing. V S Sanjeev Rao, a prominent journalist, was one of them. His statements usually appeared in newspapers at least once a week. “Mr. Hosakoppa Krishna Rao Wires” appeared more times than “Mr. Hosakoppa Krishna Rao Writes.” He had invested a lot of money in this promotional venture. Articles that came out in his name were far more effective than the words he spoke.

Krishna Rao was a good connoisseur and a benevolent man. His presence meant a crowd would have gathered there. I still remember the flavour of his hospitality. He was well versed in Tala-maddale and Yakshagana. He would relish these plays with a group of his friends. I savoured being a part of this group on a couple of different occasions. He played a prominent part in a lot of organisations such as the Hindu Seva Dala. He was also the president of the Kadur District Board for some time. His final days weren’t quite comforting for him. I wasn’t one of the insiders of his Progressive Party. It was an organisation that was functional mainly because of personage of Krishna Rao. It wasn’t able to stop the communally fuelled unrest triggered by Prajamitra Mandali. Yet his efforts were fruitful to an extent in reiterating the validity of a comprehensive national vision and an ambition of national progress.

The year 1928 was etched in the history because of Sultanpet turmoil. There were two outcomes of this event – (a) Protest from Hindu organisations and (b) Demand for a democratic government.

A Hindu Mahasabha was established to unify Hindu population and to tackle any issues that might cause concern to Hinduism or the Hindu society. Sampige Venkatapataiah took lead in this regard. Ganeshotsava, promotion of Garadi Vyayama, and a few other initiatives of this organisation went on for about four to five years.

This now reminds me of a humorous event. There were two factions in the Hindu society back then. One of it suspected the other to be in favour of the government. H C Dasappa was a forerunner of one of these factions. V Venkatappa was a part the other. The first group was of the opinion that establishment of Hindu Mahasabha was unnecessary. The other opined for immediate requirement for a Hindu establishment. The latter faction planned for inaugurating a branch of Hindu Mahasabha in Mysore and organised a large symposium in this regard at the Mysore Town Hall. They invited an eminent person – either Banumaiah or Vardhamanaiah – to preside over the day’s inaugural event that was scheduled to begin at eight-thirty in the morning. The convenor had travelled to the president’s house to escort him to the event. The Town Hall’s clock struck 8.30 even before they arrived at the venue. At that very instant someone from the crowd stood up and said, “I endorse Sriman Nilagiri Sanjivaiah to preside over this convention.” A few people from the crowd applauded. Sanjivaiah made no delay in walking up to the stage, adorned the seat reserved for the president even as he thanked the audience and mandated the commencement of events. The convenor and the invited president arrived at the venue two or three minutes later. They were baffled to see the result of their delay. Their event was hijacked by members of the opposing faction.

The second result of the Sultapet unrest was an overall political awareness. An awareness that (1) such atrocities won’t cease from recurring if political powers are in hands of a single authority, (2) primary need in the state is a citizen-centric political system and (3) the government must function by honouring and reconciling views of its citizens – these points had a universal appeal on the minds of the people. The report of the Visvesvaraya Committee was along the same lines too and recommended for the formation of a responsible government. Now the need for forming a responsible government that functioned irrespective of the caste, creed, religion, or profession became evident in people’s minds. In accordance with this, a new organisation called National Progressive League was established around 1928-29. This too saw an end after declaring a few goals and enunciating some principles through a couple of its meetings.

K Chengalaraya Reddy entered political arena at around 1928–29.  Back then, he began as a member of Citizens Representative Assembly. He never associated himself with any party for some time. A multi-party meet to discuss the reformation of Indian state, called the Round Table Conference was scheduled to take place in London in 1931. Sir. Mirza Ismail was supposed to take part in it as a representative of Mysore. In this light, he had organized a representatives meeting in Bangalore with an intention of collecting a feedback about his administrative duties. A few of the meeting invitees held a private meet prior to the scheduled event in which they drafted a letter requesting a robust structure to be made available to public opinion and intended to present it before Sir Mirza Ismail. A request letter was drafted accordingly. The letter had explicitly reasoned out (1) the need for princely states to adopt a responsible government and (2) the considerations that are to be bestowed upon the princely states by the government of unified India. Once the letter was drafted, there arose disputes not only in matters of editing and presentation of the draft but also with respect to its signatories and the order of their names on it. Whoever initiated this squabble wasn’t stern in their appeal and the issue saw a closure when they took a stand to compromise on insignificant issues, as long as the prime issue was addressed in the body of the letter. D S Mallappa presented the letter by reading it out to the Diwan on behalf of the progressive group. A majority of the eminent people gathered there signed their names on it – irrespective of religion, caste, and affiliated groups.

Bangalore hosted the State’s People’s Conference in 1931. Prof. G R Abhyankar, an advocate in the Sangli province and also a professor at the Pune Law College presided over the event. Self governance must be instituted in princely states; the princely states must be included to be a part of integral India; and a few other resolutions along the same lines were passed at the meet.

The Lawyer’s Conference was held at Madhugiri in 1932. All Parties’ Conference was also held at about the same time. The white paper of policies passed by Sir Samuel Horr, the then India Secretary was examined and denounced for its non-consideration of welfare pertaining to princely states during the conference.

It appears like the Indian National Congress saw its inception in Mysore prior to 1921–22. It had gained popularity and the respect of the people. Yet it was only around 1932 that it gained real strength and became truly functional – when Prajamitra Mandali and its heir Prajapaksha merged with Congress. A few days before this, Prajamitra Mandali had held a party meet in Kolar. And one fine day, as inadvertent as it may seem to an outsider, all of the party leaders signed up as members of the Congress. Those who had hung up their handkerchiefs and hats in their closet the previous night wore the Gandhi cap when they woke up the next morning. A few among them were genuinely adherent to Khadi and nurtured Gandhian principles even earlier. Thus the state witnessed a surge of virility in politics through this incident. I’ll stop now with this episode.

All these incidents that I’ve narrated are just based on my memory. I do not have the corresponding evidences or documents in front of me at the moment. I do not have enough spare time to compile them. There might be a number of blunders and shortcomings in what I remember – dates might have been mixed up; I may have forgotten quite a lot of important points and episodes. I believe all the readers recognise that the intention of this article isn’t to dishonour or discriminate against anyone. My intention here is only to highlight some of the older happenings to bring it to the notice of younger generation. Our political development is a resultant of incessant, perennial and multidirectional effort of many individuals. A lot many have exhausted not just physical effort and wealth, but also their time, intellectual ability and mental enthusiasm into it. I hope today’s youth will commit more earnest efforts into their work in this domain if they realise the difficulty with which political progress has been achieved in our country.

This is the fourth part of a four-part English translation of the seventeenth chapter of D V Gundappa’s Jnapakachitrashaale (Volume 1) – Sahiti Sajjana Sarvajanikaru. DVG wrote this series in the early 1950s. Thanks to Śatāvadhāni Dr. R Ganesh for his review. Edited by Hari Ravikumar.

Author(s)

About:

Devanahalli Venkataramanayya Gundappa (1887-1975) was a great visionary and polymath. He was a journalist, poet, art connoisseur, philosopher, political analyst, institution builder, social commentator, social worker, and activist.

Translator(s)

Kiran Prasad
About:

Kiran is a mechanical engineer by qualification who's habituated to the routine of learning and unlearning. He has an abiding interest in Indian culture, art, and literature.

Prekshaa Publications

Among the many contributions of ancient Indians to world thought, perhaps the most insightful is the realisation that ānanda (Bliss) is the ultimate goal of human existence. Since time immemorial, India has been a land steeped in contemplation about the nature of humans and the universe. The great ṛṣis (seers) and ṛṣikās (seeresses) embarked on critical analysis of subjective experience and...

One of the two great epics of India and arguably the most popular epic in the world, the Ramayana has enchanted generations of people not just in Greater India but the world over. In less than three hundred pages The Essential Ramayana captures all the poetic subtleties and noble values of the original and offers the great epic in an eminently readable form that will appeal to the learned and...

The Bhagavad-gītā isn’t merely a treatise on ultimate liberation. It is also a treatise on good living. Even the laity, which does not have its eye on mokṣa, can immensely benefit from the Gītā. It has the power to grant an attitude of reverence in worldly life, infuse enthusiasm in the execution of duty, impart fortitude in times of adversity, and offer solace to the heart when riddled by...

Indian Perspective of Truth and Beauty in Homer’s Epics is a unique work on the comparative study of the Greek Epics Iliad and Odyssey with the Indian Epics – Rāmāyaṇa and Mahābhārata. Homer, who laid the foundations for the classical tradition of the West, occupies a stature similar to that occupied by the seer-poets Vālmīki and Vyāsa, who are synonymous with the Indian culture. The author...

Karnataka’s celebrated polymath, D V Gundappa brings together in the sixth volume of reminiscences character sketches of prominent public figures, liberals, and social workers. These remarkable personages hailing from different corners of South India are from a period that spans from the late nineteenth century to the mid-twentieth century. Written in Kannada in the 1970s, these memoirs go...

An Introduction to Hinduism based on Primary Sources

Authors: Śatāvadhānī Dr. R Ganesh, Hari Ravikumar

What is the philosophical basis for Sanātana-dharma, the ancient Indian way of life? What makes it the most inclusive and natural of all religio-philosophical systems in the world?

The Essential Sanātana-dharma serves as a handbook for anyone who wishes to grasp the...

Karnataka’s celebrated polymath, D V Gundappa brings together in the fifth volume, episodes from the lives of traditional savants responsible for upholding the Vedic culture. These memorable characters lived a life of opulence amidst poverty— theirs  was the wealth of the soul, far beyond money and gold. These vidvāns hailed from different corners of the erstwhile Mysore Kingdom and lived in...

Padma Bhushan Dr. Padma Subrahmanyam represents the quintessence of Sage Bharata’s art and Bhārata, the country that gave birth to the peerless seer of the Nāṭya-veda. Padma’s erudition in various streams of Indic knowledge, mastery over many classical arts, deep understanding of the nuances of Indian culture, creative genius, and sublime vision bolstered by the vedāntic and nationalistic...

Bhārata has been a land of plenty in many ways. We have had a timeless tradition of the twofold principle of Brāhma (spirit of wisdom) and Kṣāttra (spirit of valour) nourishing and protecting this sacred land. The Hindu civilisation, rooted in Sanātana-dharma, has constantly been enriched by brāhma and safeguarded by kṣāttra.
The renowned Sanskrit poet and scholar, Śatāvadhānī Dr. R...

ಛಂದೋವಿವೇಕವು ವರ್ಣವೃತ್ತ, ಮಾತ್ರಾಜಾತಿ ಮತ್ತು ಕರ್ಷಣಜಾತಿ ಎಂದು ವಿಭಕ್ತವಾದ ಎಲ್ಲ ಬಗೆಯ ಛಂದಸ್ಸುಗಳನ್ನೂ ವಿವೇಚಿಸುವ ಪ್ರಬಂಧಗಳ ಸಂಕಲನ. ಲೇಖಕರ ದೀರ್ಘಕಾಲಿಕ ಆಲೋಚನೆಯ ಸಾರವನ್ನು ಒಳಗೊಂಡ ಈ ಹೊತ್ತಗೆ ಪ್ರಧಾನವಾಗಿ ಛಂದಸ್ಸಿನ ಸೌಂದರ್ಯವನ್ನು ಲಕ್ಷಿಸುತ್ತದೆ. ತೌಲನಿಕ ವಿಶ್ಲೇಷಣೆ ಮತ್ತು ಅಂತಃಶಾಸ್ತ್ರೀಯ ಅಧ್ಯಯನಗಳ ತೆಕ್ಕೆಗೆ ಬರುವ ಬರೆಹಗಳೂ ಇಲ್ಲಿವೆ. ಶಾಸ್ತ್ರಕಾರನಿಗಲ್ಲದೆ ಸಿದ್ಧಹಸ್ತನಾದ ಕವಿಗೆ ಮಾತ್ರ ಸ್ಫುರಿಸಬಲ್ಲ ಎಷ್ಟೋ ಹೊಳಹುಗಳು ಕೃತಿಯ ಮೌಲಿಕತೆಯನ್ನು ಹೆಚ್ಚಿಸಿವೆ. ಈ...

Karnataka’s celebrated polymath, D V Gundappa brings together in the fourth volume, some character sketches of the Dewans of Mysore preceded by an account of the political framework of the State before Independence and followed by a review of the political conditions of the State after 1940. These remarkable leaders of Mysore lived in a period that spans from the mid-nineteenth century to the...

Bharatiya Kavya-mimamseya Hinnele is a monograph on Indian Aesthetics by Mahamahopadhyaya N. Ranganatha Sharma. The book discusses the history and significance of concepts pivotal to Indian literary theory. It is equally useful to the learned and the laity.

Sahitya-samhite is a collection of literary essays in Kannada. The book discusses aestheticians such as Ananda-vardhana and Rajashekhara; Sanskrit scholars such as Mena Ramakrishna Bhat, Sridhar Bhaskar Varnekar and K S Arjunwadkar; and Kannada litterateurs such as DVG, S L Bhyrappa and S R Ramaswamy. It has a foreword by Shatavadhani Dr. R Ganesh.

The Mahābhārata is the greatest epic in the world both in magnitude and profundity. A veritable cultural compendium of Bhārata-varṣa, it is a product of the creative genius of Maharṣi Kṛṣṇa-dvaipāyana Vyāsa. The epic captures the experiential wisdom of our civilization and all subsequent literary, artistic, and philosophical creations are indebted to it. To read the Mahābhārata is to...

Shiva Rama Krishna

சிவன். ராமன். கிருஷ்ணன்.
இந்திய பாரம்பரியத்தின் முப்பெரும் கதாநாயகர்கள்.
உயர் இந்தியாவில் தலைமுறைகள் பல கடந்தும் கடவுளர்களாக போற்றப்பட்டு வழிகாட்டிகளாக விளங்குபவர்கள்.
மனித ஒற்றுமை நூற்றாண்டுகால பரிணாம வளர்ச்சியின் பரிமாணம்.
தனிநபர்களாகவும், குடும்ப உறுப்பினர்களாகவும், சமுதாய பிரஜைகளாகவும் நாம் அனைவரும் பரிமளிக்கிறோம்.
சிவன் தனிமனித அடையாளமாக அமைகிறான்....

ऋतुभिः सह कवयः सदैव सम्बद्धाः। विशिष्य संस्कृतकवयः। यथा हि ऋतवः प्रतिसंवत्सरं प्रतिनवतामावहन्ति मानवेषु तथैव ऋतुवर्णनान्यपि काव्यरसिकेषु कामपि विच्छित्तिमातन्वते। ऋतुकल्याणं हि सत्यमिदमेव हृदि कृत्वा प्रवृत्तम्। नगरजीवनस्य यान्त्रिकतां मान्त्रिकतां च ध्वनदिदं चम्पूकाव्यं गद्यपद्यमिश्रितमिति सुव्यक्तमेव। ऐदम्पूर्वतया प्रायः पुरीपरिसरप्रसृतानाम् ऋतूनां विलासोऽत्र प्रपञ्चितः। बेङ्गलूरुनामके...

The Art and Science of Avadhānam in Sanskrit is a definitive work on Sāhityāvadhānam, a form of Indian classical art based on multitasking, lateral thinking, and extempore versification. Dotted throughout with tasteful examples, it expounds in great detail on the theory and practice of this unique performing art. It is as much a handbook of performance as it is an anthology of well-turned...

This anthology is a revised edition of the author's 1978 classic. This series of essays, containing his original research in various fields, throws light on the socio-cultural landscape of Tamil Nadu spanning several centuries. These compelling episodes will appeal to scholars and laymen alike.
“When superstitious mediaevalists mislead the country about its judicial past, we have to...

The cultural history of a nation, unlike the customary mainstream history, has a larger time-frame and encompasses the timeless ethos of a society undergirding the course of events and vicissitudes. A major key to the understanding of a society’s unique character is an appreciation of the far-reaching contributions by outstanding personalities of certain periods – especially in the realms of...

Prekṣaṇīyam is an anthology of essays on Indian classical dance and theatre authored by multifaceted scholar and creative genius, Śatāvadhānī Dr. R Ganesh. As a master of śāstra, a performing artiste (of the ancient art of Avadhānam), and a cultured rasika, he brings a unique, holistic perspective to every discussion. These essays deal with the philosophy, history, aesthetics, and practice of...

Yaugandharam

इदं किञ्चिद्यामलं काव्यं द्वयोः खण्डकाव्ययोः सङ्कलनरूपम्। रामानुरागानलं हि सीतापरित्यागाल्लक्ष्मणवियोगाच्च श्रीरामेणानुभूतं हृदयसङ्क्षोभं वर्णयति । वात्सल्यगोपालकं तु कदाचिद्भानूपरागसमये घटितं यशोदाश्रीकृष्णयोर्मेलनं वर्णयति । इदम्प्रथमतया संस्कृतसाहित्ये सम्पूर्णं काव्यं...

Vanitakavitotsavah

इदं खण्डकाव्यमान्तं मालिनीछन्दसोपनिबद्धं विलसति। मेनकाविश्वामित्रयोः समागमः, तत्फलतया शकुन्तलाया जननम्, मातापितृभ्यां त्यक्तस्य शिशोः कण्वमहर्षिणा परिपालनं चेति काव्यस्यास्येतिवृत्तसङ्क्षेपः।

Vaiphalyaphalam

इदं खण्डकाव्यमान्तं मालिनीछन्दसोपनिबद्धं विलसति। मेनकाविश्वामित्रयोः समागमः, तत्फलतया शकुन्तलाया जननम्, मातापितृभ्यां त्यक्तस्य शिशोः कण्वमहर्षिणा परिपालनं चेति काव्यस्यास्येतिवृत्तसङ्क्षेपः।

Nipunapraghunakam

इयं रचना दशसु रूपकेष्वन्यतमस्य भाणस्य निदर्शनतामुपैति। एकाङ्करूपकेऽस्मिन् शेखरकनामा चित्रोद्यमलेखकः केनापि हेतुना वियोगम् अनुभवतोश्चित्रलेखामिलिन्दकयोः समागमं सिसाधयिषुः कथामाकाशभाषणरूपेण निर्वहति।

Bharavatarastavah

अस्मिन् स्तोत्रकाव्ये भगवन्तं शिवं कविरभिष्टौति। वसन्ततिलकयोपनिबद्धस्य काव्यस्यास्य कविकृतम् उल्लाघनाभिधं व्याख्यानं च वर्तते।

Karnataka’s celebrated polymath, D V Gundappa brings together in the third volume, some character sketches of great literary savants responsible for Kannada renaissance during the first half of the twentieth century. These remarkable...

Karnataka’s celebrated polymath, D V Gundappa brings together in the second volume, episodes from the lives of remarkable exponents of classical music and dance, traditional storytellers, thespians, and connoisseurs; as well as his...

Karnataka’s celebrated polymath, D V Gundappa brings together in the first volume, episodes from the lives of great writers, poets, literary aficionados, exemplars of public life, literary scholars, noble-hearted common folk, advocates...

Evolution of Mahabharata and Other Writings on the Epic is the English translation of S R Ramaswamy's 1972 Kannada classic 'Mahabharatada Belavanige' along with seven of his essays on the great epic. It tells the riveting...

Shiva-Rama-Krishna is an English adaptation of Śatāvadhāni Dr. R Ganesh's popular lecture series on the three great...

Bharatilochana

ಮಹಾಮಾಹೇಶ್ವರ ಅಭಿನವಗುಪ್ತ ಜಗತ್ತಿನ ವಿದ್ಯಾವಲಯದಲ್ಲಿ ಮರೆಯಲಾಗದ ಹೆಸರು. ಮುಖ್ಯವಾಗಿ ಶೈವದರ್ಶನ ಮತ್ತು ಸೌಂದರ್ಯಮೀಮಾಂಸೆಗಳ ಪರಮಾಚಾರ್ಯನಾಗಿ  ಸಾವಿರ ವರ್ಷಗಳಿಂದ ಇವನು ಜ್ಞಾನಪ್ರಪಂಚವನ್ನು ಪ್ರಭಾವಿಸುತ್ತಲೇ ಇದ್ದಾನೆ. ಭರತಮುನಿಯ ನಾಟ್ಯಶಾಸ್ತ್ರವನ್ನು ಅರ್ಥಮಾಡಿಕೊಳ್ಳಲು ಇವನೊಬ್ಬನೇ ನಮಗಿರುವ ಆಲಂಬನ. ಇದೇ ರೀತಿ ರಸಧ್ವನಿಸಿದ್ಧಾಂತವನ್ನು...

Vagarthavismayasvadah

“वागर्थविस्मयास्वादः” प्रमुखतया साहित्यशास्त्रतत्त्वानि विमृशति । अत्र सौन्दर्यर्यशास्त्रीयमूलतत्त्वानि यथा रस-ध्वनि-वक्रता-औचित्यादीनि सुनिपुणं परामृष्टानि प्रतिनवे चिकित्सकप्रज्ञाप्रकाशे। तदन्तर एव संस्कृतवाङ्मयस्य सामर्थ्यसमाविष्कारोऽपि विहितः। क्वचिदिव च्छन्दोमीमांसा च...

The Best of Hiriyanna

The Best of Hiriyanna is a collection of forty-eight essays by Prof. M. Hiriyanna that sheds new light on Sanskrit Literature, Indian...

Stories Behind Verses

Stories Behind Verses is a remarkable collection of over a hundred anecdotes, each of which captures a story behind the composition of a Sanskrit verse. Collected over several years from...