Nadaprabhu Kempe Gowda:
The Vice-President of India, paid tribute to Nadaprabhu Sri Kempe Gowda on his 517th Birth Anniversary (27th June 2026) in Bengaluru, highlighting his enduring legacy in urban planning, sustainable development, inclusive governance, and environmental conservation.Kempe Gowda (1510 – 1569) descendant of the Morasu Gowda lineage, served as a prominent ruler and chieftain under the Vijayanagara Empire.After receiving permission from Emperor Achyuta Deva Raya (reigned 1529–42), Kempe Gowda founded Bengaluru in 1537 by constructing the Bengaluru Fort and establishing Bengaluru Pete (the central market area). He also shifted his capital from Yelahanka, laying the foundation for the modern city.He envisioned a city where farmers, traders, artisans, scholars, and people of different faiths could live and prosper together, laying the foundation for Bengaluru’s identity as “Mini Bharat.”He is historically celebrated for abolishing regressive societal norms, most notably prohibiting the amputation of the last two fingers of the left hand of unmarried women during “Bandi Devaru”, a prevailing custom among the Morasu Vokkaligas.Beyond urban planning, he was a great patron of art and learning, significantly contributing to public welfare by building numerous temples and water reservoirs to ensure drought resilience and cultural flourishing. The 108-foot Statue of Prosperity in Bengaluru honours Kempe Gowda. It is recognized by the World Book of Records as the world’s tallest bronze statue of a city’s founder.
