Kengal Hanumanthaiah
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Kengal Hanumanthaiah was the chief minister of the Old Mysore State (Karnataka) in India from 1952 to 1956. He is best remembered for his vision and contribution to the construction of Vidhana Soudha or the state assembly house.
[edit] Biography
Lakkappanapalli, a small village in Bangalore district is home to a stalwart, late Sri Kengal Hanumanthaiya; a leading visionary and statesman of Indian independence. He was born in 1908 to a traditional Vokkaliga family.
He graduated in Arts from the Mysore Maharaja College in 1930, and later completed L.L.B from Poona Law College in 1932. In the same year he joined the bar, making way to the beginning of an unbroken career of success. As a lawyer Sri Kengal Hanumanthaiya displayed an image of intellectuality and vibrancy. His principles, values and dedication to work give him the strength of infinite capacity.
During his college days, Sri. Kengal Hanumanthaiya demonstrated great zeal and enthusiasm. He was elected as the secretary of the Students Union and Karnataka Sangha. Inspired by Mahatma Gandhi, he pitched himself into the freedom struggle and demonstrated immense energy and dedication towards his endeavors. In course of this struggle, he was imprisoned more than nine times.
From centuries India was engulfed in the political chaos. Between 1933 and 1939, the Mysore state (now called Karnataka) began to experience unprecedented turbulence in the political sphere due to Indian political movement which was striving for independence. At this time Dr. P. Tandon, the then President of Indian National Congress, advised Kengal Hanumanthaiya to give up active practice at the bar and to devote himself to this great nationalistic purpose.
After a long enduring struggle, India became independent on August 15th, 1947. Having established himself on the political scenario, Kengal Hanumanthaiya was unanimously elected the leader of the Congress Parliamentary Party in 1948. In 1951 Karnataka saw a new beginning on the political front with its first chief minister Sri Kengal Hanumanthaiah. Having philanthropic characteristics and immense administrative qualities, his tenure as a Chief Minister marked efficient state-of-affairs, aimed at uplifting the rural population of the state and progressive economic growth. As a true leader of the people, he kept administration free from political interference.
The great visionary went on further to achieve a myriad of accomplishments. In assessing his contribution to the nation and his qualities as a statesman, one has to recall the irrefutable evidence that Sri Kengal Hanumanthaiya has posed in the form of the splendid,“Vidhana Soudha”- the largest legislature-cum-office building in the country which is majestically dominating the Bangalore landscape. Entirely envisioned and executed by Sri Kengal Hanumanthaiya, the architecture of this granite building is based on Dravidian style. It is a stone symbolic of Bangalore and prime edifice of the City - a “people's palace”. In awe of this great monument Sri Jawaharlal Nehru stated, “Vidhana Soudha has overpowered me”.
The other supreme achievement of Sri Kengal Hanumanthaiya was the unification of Karnataka. He played a pivotal role in the unity of the Kannada speaking areas within the boundaries of a single state. His historic speech in November, 1955 at the Mysore Legislative Assembly is a brilliant exposition of the case for unification of the states on the basis of language.
The former chief minister also became a member of the Union Government as a cabinet minister with portfolio of railways in January 1971. He made extraordinary achievement in his short term by instilling efficient administration at the Indian railways. His political term included systematic and honest administration, improving life of rural and weaker sections of population, education of youth on democracy, and creation of a cultural department to impart traditional values .
[edit] References
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