Karnataka launches Wadiyar foundation on Maharaja Narasimharaja Wadiyar’s birth anniversary
BENGALURU: HH Srikantadatta Narasimharaja Wadiyar (HHSNW) Foundation was launched with the objective to complete the vision of Late Maharaja Srikantadatta Narasimharaja Wadiyar, stressed speakers, including Wadiyar’s wife Pramoda Devi Wadiyar and his sisters, at Bangalore Palace on Monday.
HHSNW Foundation launched on the 65th birth anniversary of Maharaja Narasimharaja Wadiyar also marks the third anniversary of H H Srikantadatta Narasimharaja Wadiyar Indian Medical Heritage Library at TDU (Trans-Disciplinary University).
Pramoda Devi Wadiyar said the foundation will work towards realising aspirations of Late Maharaja Wadiyar in areas of preserving art, culture, heritage and on conserving artifacts for posterity. It was Maharaja’s multi-faceted personality that helped in overcoming her shyness, she revealed. She revealed plans to continue repair works at Jaganmohan Palace, open a conservation centre in Mysuru and an institution of policy studies.
The eldest among Wadiyar’s sisters, Maharajakumari Kamakshi Devi, described him as a very versatile personality passionate about education, horse racing, administration and cricket. Maharajakumari Indrakshi Devi revealed that late Maharaja had taught her swimming, cycling and cricket. “Though a prince he chose to remain like a commoner. He was a food connoisseur and even discovered a dish, Haleem bath, a mix of Bisi bele bath and Haleem (a stew popular in mid East),’’ she said. Maharajakumari Vishalakshi Devi said Maharaja Wadiyar’s death left a void in palace. Professor Rafeeq Ahmed also shared memories of Late Maharaja Wadiyar.
Former Chief Justice of India Justice M N Venkatachaliahlaunching the foundation’s logo said Indian heritage is ‘understandable phenomenon of working mind and body’. Former Lokayukta chief Justice Santosh Hegde regretted that society respects money and power. “The institution of policy studies should change the thinking of society and should build a society that boycotts the corrupt and respects those are honest,’’ he stressed. TDU Vice- Chancellor Prof Darshan Shankar and Sucharita School of Cinema Director Prakash Belawadi were present. Sri M delivered a talk on demystifying spirituality.
The event was followed with a Bharatanatyam tribute to Wadiyars by Lakshmi Gopalswamy and Sathyanarayana Raju.
Foundation’s principles and purposes
Promote heritage, crafts and culture. To set up cultural parks
To raise funds for upliftment and documentation of heritage
To run museums, art galleries and exhibit artifacts
To provide medical services to poor in villages
To promote sports, maintain playgrounds, parks and centres of sports
To award scholarships, to establish information centres and to conduct surveys
To preserve environment and to exchange ideas on foreign, security policy