President Ram Nath Kovind on compared the late Jayachamaraja (JC) Wadiyar, the last maharaja of erstwhile Mysuru state, with Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi as both of them were open to noble thought from all sides, inspired by the vedic advise and along with being firmly grounded by the ethos and values of India, blended western modernity into it.
He was speaking after Inaugurating the birth centenary celebrations of JC Wadiyar at Durbar Hall of the Mysuru Palace here on Thursday evening. The President also unveiled a plaque of ‘Sri Jayachamaraja Wadiyar Centre for Higher Learning’, being established by the University of Mysore (UoM)
President said that the 25th Maharaja of the Kingdom of Mysore was an exceptional ruler and able administrator, highlighting that the King was also a noted philosopher, music exponent, political thinker and philanthropist.
“When India won independence, he was the first among the rulers of India’s princely states to accept the Instrument of Accession. Maharaja signed it on August 9, 1947 and the Union Government accepted it on August 16. He should be thus regarded as the icon of India’s transition to democracy. His pioneering contribution to the unity and integrity of the newly independent nation will never be forgotten,” said Mr Kovind.
He also hailed the king for encouraging entrepreneurship across the state. As the ruler of the Mysore state, Maharaja Wadiyar actively encouraged establishment of an industrial facility in Bengaluru by a company called Hindustan Aircraft in 1940 which later became Hindustan Aeronautics.
The President expressed happiness to note that the Maharaja had gifted a magnificent Cheluvamba Mansion in Mysore to the government to start the Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI). “Maharaja’s similar donations helped the government set up the National Tuberculosis Institute in Bangalore and the All India Institute of Speech and Hearing at Mysore,” he added.
Mr Kovind further said, “Legendary leaders like Maharaja Wadiyar have shaped the life we lead today. The best tribute we can pay him on the occasion of his birth centenary is to emulate his values and his vision in our daily lives.”
On the sideline of the event Karnataka Governor Vajubhai R Vala released a book titled ‘Srividya Sankeerthana Sudhalahari’ in Kannada and Devanagari. The book contains both literature and musical notes of 94 Carnatic classical music compositions of JC Wadiyar Music
