Dajiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (JD)

Mangaluru, Dec 13: Union law minister D V Sadananda Gowda on Sunday December 13 said that it was the founder of Bengaluru Kempegowda who had first introduced the concept of smart cities in India 500 years ago.

He was addressing a district-level gathering of Vokkaligas at Sanghaniketan hall here.

"Today the central government is planning to develop 100 cities into Smart Cities in the next three years. But through sophisticated town planning and irrigation facilities, it was Kempegowda who planned to make Bengaluru a smart city 500 years ago. I am proud to say that I belong to his cult of Vokkaligas. It is only because of Kempegowda that Bengaluru has achieved so much in so many fields.

"The Vokkaliga community is responsible for my growth from a remote village. As a community we should be united. Our approach should be futuristic. When a person does good deeds, it is his community that benefits," he added.

The programme was inaugurated by Sri Nirmalanandanatha Swamiji of Adichunchanagiri Math.
Giving a call for everyone to get united, the Swamiji said, "Our commuity has improved a lot from where it was 100 years ago. The literacy rate has risen drastically from 4 percent to 80 percent, and we're really proud that the two vice-chancellors Prof Byrappa of Managluru University and Dr Chinnappa Gowda of Karnataka Folklore University are from our community.

"Even though we're the biggest community in the state we are not united. If we are united we can demand special facilities that we deserve from the government.

"We have been serving the society through our institutions, irrespective of caste, creed and religion. Hence we must be proud to be Vokkaligas," he asserted.

Vice-chancellors Prof Byrappa and Dr Chinnappa Gowda along with Dakshina Kannada zilla panchayat president Asha Thimmappa Gowda, Sri Dharmapalanatha Swamiji, Dr Chidananda Kurunji of KVG Institutions and others were present.