Bengaluru celebrates its founder Kempe Gowda's day

The Karnataka capital on Wednesday celebrated its founder Kempe Gowda's birth anniversary as Kempegowda Day, with the state government announcing to set up a skill development university in the city in the erstwhile ruler's name.

"Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy has announced that the state plans to establish a skill development university in Kempe Gowda's name to honour his contributions to Bengaluru," an official from the Chief Minister's Office told IANS here.

Kumaraswamy, along with the state's Water Resources Minister D.K. Shivakumar and other officials earlier in the day paid tributes to Gowda by garlanding his statue in the city centre.

The state has also notified the formation of Nadaprabhu Kempegowda Authority, which will work to protect the traditions of the ruler under the Vijayanagara Empire.

Born in 1510 in what is now Bengaluru's Yelahanka suburb, Gowda is considered to be the founder of Bengaluru, which he established in 1537 as the capital of his kingdom.

Gowda had planned and built Bengaluru Fort and is also known for his contribution to societal reforms and building several temples and water reservoirs in the city.

The state government has been celebrating the city's founder on his birth anniversary since last year.

--IANS

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