KALLAHALLI (HUNSUR TALUK): Kallahalli, the village of former Chief Minister D Devaraj Urs, has remarkably withstood testing times.
It is among the very few villages in the state that has not witnessed any clash due to caste, rivalry or enmity among the 300-plus families that live here.
This village on the Hunsur-Madikeri highway has upheld the legacy and dream of the backward classes messiah, Devaraj Urs, who was the architect of social reforms.
The hamlet with Veerashaivas, Dalits, Acharis (smiths) and Kunchatiga Gowdas has turned out to be a model for the politically volatile and caste-ridden Mysuru district.
As the government and the residents of the village gear up for the birth centenary celebrations of Devaraj Urs, villagers, cutting across caste lines, have joined hands to renovate Urs’ house (an old Mysuru-style Thotti Mane), which is in a dilapidated state.
The State Archives Department that has taken up conservation of the about 150-year-old house is strengthening the building with lime, brick and mud.
Its damaged tiles are being replaced and the wood too is being restored so as to plug leakages.
The plan is to convert the house into a museum. The cradle that was used by Devaraj Urs’ parents and then Devaraj Urs and his daughters, and other furniture will also be on display.
Devanna, a long-time associate of the family, said the idea is to restore the past glory of the Ursu’ (landlord) house.
“I am happy that the government has at last come forward to develop and restore the house that has inspired many leaders and generations,” he says.
Mahadevappa was 25 years old when Urs passed away. He hopes that the government will fulfill the dreams of Urs by linking the Harangi irrigation canals to fill up tanks in and around Kallahalli.
“It is unfortunate that Urs’ death put this dream project on the backburner as no successive government bothered to develop the village or execute the programmes,” he says.
Mobilising Poor
Former Minister A H Vishwanath said the birth centenary will be a spring-board to mobilise the poor and backward classes. “I am happy that Siddaramaiah came out with several economic and welfare schemes for the poor,” he says.
Past Glory
The last time that Kallahalli was decked up in such a big way was 37 years ago. The then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had driven from Chikkamagaluru to Mysuru via Kallahalli after winning the historic Lok Sabha bypoll against then Veerashaiva strongman and former Chief Minister D Veerendra Patil. Indira Gandhi walked for more than a kilometre to visit Devaraj Urs’ house.
CM to open devaraj urs birth centenary fete
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will inaugurate the birth centenary celebrations of former CM D Devaraj Urs at Manasagangotri Open Air Theatre at 3 pm on Thursday.
Social Welfare Minister H Anjaneya, PWD Minister H C Mahadevappa and Cooperation Minister H S Mahadeva Prasad, among others, will participate.
District Minister V Srinivas Prasad told reporters on Sunday that all former ministers and their families have been invited to the function.
Siddaramaiah will garland Urs’ statue at Hunsur town and announce the adoption of Kallahalli, Urs’ birth place, by the state government,he said.
Devaraj Urs birth centenary celebrations committee chief and former minister A H Vishwanath said year-long programmes have been chalked out. The District Minister also said that Dasara celebrations will be low key this year.