The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Same issues, different era

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Thursday, Feb 07, 2008
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Same issues, different era

Staff Reporter

Reward for killing dogs in 1866

BANGALORE: Did you think Bangalore’s stray dog menace is a recent phenomenon? Actually it goes way back to the 19th Century.

Pieces of history providing us with insight into life in the 19th and 20th centuries, bridging the past and the present, are on display at the Vidhana Soudha provides an opportunity to view rare government records of the region.

From the first directive on the use of vernacular language in government offices dating back to August 28, 1925, to various landmark notifications, the exhibition of historical records and photographs will treat the scholars and those interested in historical development of the State.

Among documents that are on display are the handwritten award of compensation to the children of Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan by the East India Company, letter of the Viceroy Minto to Krishnarajendra Wadiyar IV after assuming charge as the Viceroy, restoration of Mysore rule to Chamrajendra Wadiyar by the Viceroy and the Governor-General of India on March 25, 1881.

Others include papers related to formation of State Bank of Mysore, establishment of libraries, the first medical school, establishment of Bowring Hospital, the auction notification of sandalwood, honne and mathi in 1868, rules of Forest Department for possessing firearms, notification about the lost currency notes, list of annual holidays and announcement of the visit of Prince of Wales to Bangalore in 1905. A notification to form Basavanagudi and Malleswaram in 1898 and the subsequent acquisition notification of 1899 are there to view. Besides, residents of these two new areas petitioning the administration for water facility, lighting and roads are on display.

If one thought Bangalore is besieged by the dog menace now, the city was fighting it in 1866, forcing the administration to announce rewards for killing the curs.

The Mysore Gazette notification of March 21, 1866 signed by Bangalore Cantonment Magistrate and Superintendent of Police C.A. Benson announced a reward of one anna for killing a dog and two annas for killing a bitch in the period between April 2 and July 31, 1866.

Secular education

As early as 1868, the State had recognised the need for secular education in schools. A gazette notification issued by B.L. Rice, the then Director of Public Instruction had said grants-in-aid would be given for secular education in English or Kannada and should have no reference for religious instructions, but only to secular education.

The exhibition concludes on Friday.

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