Siddaramaiah on Devraj Urs: A true people’s leader

Mysuru: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah may have been in the Janata parivar when Devraj Urs ruled the roost in Karnataka in the 1970s but that did not stop him from heaping praise on the former CM whom he described as “a people’s leader in the true sense.”

“Urs was the voice of the voiceless. I am inspired by his policies for the upliftment of the common man and those in the lowest strata of society especially those from the backward communities. I am committed to implement such policies to ensure social justice and equality, no matter how strong the Opposition is,” said Mr Siddaramaiah.

He was speaking after inaugurating the year-long birth centenary celebrations of Urs in Kalhalli on Thursday. Mr Siddaramaiah tried to compare himself with Urs and spoke about the influence of his work on him. “Urs steadily climbed the steps in politics. He contested taluk board elections in Hunsur. I remember when I wanted to contest the taluk board elections, my father opposed it as he was not generous. I had to organise a panchayat with senior leaders of my village to convince my father. He agreed on the condition that I should not take money from him. The entire election expenditure was just Rs 3,000 then,” he recalled.

He added, “Urs was a rare politician, he had immense love and respect for the common man and was highly committed. A sea of people lined up from Bengaluru to Kalhalli when he died. His village was his primary source of inspiration. He was the one who appointed L.G. Havnur Commission to provide reservation to the backward classes. When power was concentrated in a few among the ruling classes post Independence, he took it to the common people. The state was named Karnataka and Kannada became the administrative language during his tenure. He brought policies to stop manual scavenging and bonded labour. All that he did, was not easy to implement. He conducted conventions in every part of the state to convince people. Even though I was in the Janata parivar and went to jail after protesting against the Emergency, I have always appreciated his work to bring about social justice. I have been criticised for being pro-Ahinda, for making people lazy by launching Anna Bhagya scheme to ensure two square meals to the common man. Only those who have a discriminatory attitude can criticise my schemes,” Mr Siddaramaiah said.

Urs home is now a museum

Kalhalli, a little village 60 km from Mysuru with 500 households and the birthplace of former CM Devraj Urs, came alive on Thursday as residents celebrated the birth centenary of their venerated leader. All roads were decorated with colourful rangolis and garlands of mango leaves and flowers.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah looks at a cradle at former CM Devraj Urs’ house at Kalhalli in Mysuru district on Thursday (Photo: DC)

The 150-year-old dilapidated home of Urs has been transformed into a beautiful museum by the department of ancient history and archaeology at a cost of Rs 2.5 lakh. The tiles of the totti mane (a house with an open tank and a ceiling at the centre), have been replaced and the ceiling has been strengthened with bamboo sticks. Even Urs’cradle has been pulled down from the attic and given a coat of fresh paint.The most important treasure are the rare photographs on the walls including those of Urs with former PM Indira Gandhi, former vice-president B.D. Jatti, Dr Rajkumar and writer Kuvempu.

Eighty year old cook Gowramma recalled his favourites and said, “He loved Muddhe, Huralis saaru and ragi roti, Kajjaya was his favourite sweet.” The village is now being adopted by the government and developed at a cost of Rs 22.75 crore to provide water connections, replace old sewage pipelines, improve hospitals, schools and other facilities built by Urs.

Born at Bettadthunga village in Hunsur taluk, Urs came to Kalhalli after his grandmother adopted him. The state government has plans to develop Bettadthunga too. The samaadi of Devraj Urs will be developed as a memorial, said CM Siddaramaiah.