Karnataka: Hiriya Kempegowda Descendants Lead A Self-Reliant Life At Hulikal Of Magadi
“While celebrating the village fair annually, villagers consult the descendants of Kempegowda at Hulikal village”: H.V. Nagabhushan (One of the descendants of the Kempegowda family)
BENGALURU: Some of the descendants of Nadaprabhu Hiriya Kempegowda, the founder of Bengaluru city, lead a self-reliant life depending on agriculture at Hulikal in Kudur Hobli of Magadi taluk in Bengaluru South district. The reputation of the Kempegowda family is such that residents of Hulikal descend as “Doregala Mane” (King’s House).
“I’m an ordinary farmer unlike others in the village,” said H.V. Nagabhushan, who is also called Rajanna, one of the descendants of the Kempegowda family. People of Hulikal call him as ‘Meese’ Rajanna over him having ‘handle bar mustache’ resembling his ancestors such as Kempegowda, Chikkappaiah, among others.
Rajanna told Deccan Chronicle, “Earlier I cultivated paddy but it was difficult to contain birds raiding the crops and I moved to areca. Besides, I rent a couple of tractors and supply about 25 litres of milk to the dairy to meet my family expenses.”
The fame of Kempegowda is such that even now the residents of villages surrounding Hulikal held the descendants in high regard. Rajanna attributed the respect the family commands over to “generous” contributions made by his ancestors to the people, irrespective of one's caste and religious lines.
“While celebrating the village fair annually, villagers consult the descendants of Kempegowda at Hulikal village,” Rajanna said/ “We treat the villagers with equal respect.” The family has some relatives scattered in neighbouring villages of Hulikal while some live in Sidlaghatta, Chikkaballapura and surrounding villages.
Rajanna said former minister, H.M. Revanna and former MLA, A. Manju in particular treat the family members with great respect. Rajanna’s sons Girish and Satish are also into agriculture. Considering the reputation of the family, Rajanna said none of the family made into politics at a higher level despite considerable recognition among people and having proximity to Revanna and Manju.
Staying close to Rajanna is his younger brother Ravi Kumar and elder brother Chikkapaiah are also into agriculture.
T. Kumaraswamy, resident of Thigarapalya who is familiar with Kempegowda descendants, said the descendants of Kempegowda lack recognition by successive governments and the descendants continue to remain in isolation.
