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Father, forgive them...
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Ours is not a city that rose from the ashes. Nor are there myths about divinely demarcated boundaries. Folks from Chandigarh and Jaipur might merrily sing the name of their city's builders, but do Bangaloreans know where their beloved city came from? Namma Bengalooru, Garden city, Pensioner's Paradise, Silicon City: nicknames spring up almost by the minute. Do people know that the original christening was due to a faux pas about boiled beans? ROHINI MOHAN scoured the city for mann ina magas and magalus who might be aware of Kempegowda as the founder of Bangalore, and not "that chap whose statue doesn't have a pointing finger".
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They haven't taken a lesson about Kempegowda yet. Maybe I'll know after that. Did he build the Vidhana Soudha? But I have seen Mysore Palace and know about Wodeyar.
Divya, V Std., Student
This city was called Bendakalooru by Kempegowda. The British pronounced it as Bangalore. His statue has been put up because he only built the city and put up four marking points to demarcate the boundary of the city.
Harish, excise officer
All I know is that he was some king and that someone gifted some land to him. Then he built it into a whole city. I think he also demarcated the central part of Bangalore to be that Corporation Circle area.
Aarti, student
Administrators today don't do even half of what Kempegowda did for us. And what respect do we show the founder of our city? The bus stand in his name is not lit, has no proper shelter and why? Because no donators. Che! These councillors just use his name for their benefit, but no one really cares.
Basavaraj, Fire Force mechanic
Ya, Kempegowda's the founder of Bangalore. He has something to do with Vidhana Soudha too. Maybe he built it?
Haresh, Student
I have just heard his name many times, but don't exactly know who he is. He supposed to be very important to Bangalore, no?
Poonam, commerce student
He has put something up in Lal Bagh, I'm sure. I have seen the Glass House and the dwarfs there, though. There is one Kempegowda bus stand also. Ok, maybe he founded Bangalore...
Kanthasri, homemaker
See, I'm a Kannadiga. Of course I know who Kempegowda is. He was an overly publicised writer, if I may say that. People also call him the founder of Bangalore. He put some flag somewhere and said that was the limit of Bangalore.
Supreeta, merchandiser
Yes, yes, Kempegowda avaru put four gopuras. He wanted our Bangalore to remain within those four points and not go beyond. Many think he was a king but he was just a feudal lord.
Ramu, Powerloom manager
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