From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru
Bengaluru, Aug 3: The year-long birth centenary celebrations of former chief minister D Devaraj Urs, who is better remembered for ushering in the most progressive Karnataka Land Reforms Act in the State, will commence with a function at his birth place of Kallahalli near Mysuru on August 20.
The State will be posthumously conferring its highest award of "Karnataka Ratna" for his achievements during his two terms of chief minister from 1972 to 1977 and 1978 to 1980.
A decision regarding holding the year-long celebrations was taken at a high-level meeting presided by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in Bengaluru on Monday.
Karnataka’s Social Welfare Minister H Anjaneya, who briefed reporters after the high-level meeting, said that the State Government would organise a programme in the former Chief Minister’s native village of Kallahalli on August 20 to launch the year-long celebrations.
The main objective behind organising the year-long birth centenary of the State’s most illustrious former chief minister was to create public awareness about his achievements and vision, including those related to social justice and land reforms, the minister explained.
Ballabroohie to become a Museum
Anjaneya said the former Chief Minister would be conferred the State’s highest award of Karnataka Ratna posthumously on the Kannada Rajyotsava day on November 1.
He said the rules regarding conferring of the award posthumously would be amended soon as there are no provisions do so at present.
Explaining the different programmes being planned by the State Government for the birth centenary celebrations, the minister said the native village of Kallahalli would be developed as a model village while a building would also be constructed in his name in Hunsur town.
The Centre had already been requested to bring out a commemorative stamp on the former Chief Minister, Anjaneya said.
The Ballabroohie guest house in Bengaluru, which was the official residence when Urs was the Chief Minister would be turned into a State-level museum.
The museum would not only showcase the articles, related to Urs but would also depict his achievements.
An album containing rare pictures of Urs would also be brought out besides producing a documentary on his life and translating the book on his life as well as achievements into various languages, the minister said.
The other programmes include seminars on the numerous achievements of Urs and building 100 post-metric hostels for girls, providing scholarships to students and giving full autonomy to the Devaraj Urs Research Institute, Anjaneya added.