Who was Nadaprabhu Kempegowda?

Who was Nadaprabhu Kempegowda?

Subject: History

Context:

Nadaprabhu Kempegowda, a 16th century chieftain of the Vijayanagara empire, is credited as the founder of Bengaluru. It is said that he conceived the idea of a new city while hunting with his minister, and later marked its territory by erecting towers in four corners of the proposed city.

He was from the dominant agricultural Vokkaliga community in south Karnataka.

His Achievements:

• Against Social Evils: Nadaprabhu Kempegowda abolished the practice of cutting the fingers of the left hand of an unmarried woman during a custom known as Bandi Devaru.
• Infrastructure: Kempegowda is also known to have developed around 1,000 lakes in the city to cater to drinking and agricultural needs.
• Literature: The ruler knew multiple languages, besides Kannada, and even authored a Yakshagana play in Telugu named Gangagaurivilasa.

The old Mysuru region in south Karnataka consists of areas that were part of the erstwhile Kingdom of Mysore — Mysuru, Mandya, Chamarajanagar, Tumkur, Hassan, Chikmagalur, Kolar, Bengaluru and excludes coastal areas and Kodagu.