Mummadi Wadiyar's famed institution begs for attention

B S Sridhara Raje Urs, 75, an alumnus of Maharaja’s High School and PU College who later went on to become the principal of the institution, will stage a protest against the apathy of the authorities concerned towards the institution on Friday.

The day marks the birth anniversary of the founder, Mummadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar. Urs was also the director for the Education department, under the state government.

He said that the then maharaja Mummadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar founded the Raja Free School in 1833. “The Maharaja High School and the Maharaja Pre-University College is a continuation of the Raja Free School housed in the present heritage building. The compound in front of the institution collapsed many years back. This has been brought to the notice of the chief minister’s office, district in-charge minister, deputy commissioner, MUDA chairman, Zilla Panchayat president, MLAs and the Heritage commissioner, but without any concrete result,” he said.

Urs recalls that he had the privilege of leading the celebration of 150 years of the institution in 1987 as principal of the college, and 175 years as president of Maharaja’s High School and PU College Old Boys Association during 2009-11. “July 14 is the birth anniversary of the founder but how do we celebrate it with a broken compound and a building without repairs and paint for years? I am saddened and hurt by the indifference of the government. To draw the attention of the government, I am observing a hunger strike for a day on July 14 after garlanding the statue of Mummadi in front of the school building,” he said.

“The government should take steps to release the necessary funds directly from the Finance department to the Public Works Department to undertake the construction of the compound and to repair the building immediately,” he said.

Mysuru, which was a small principality, restricted to the fort around the present Amba Vilas Palace, has grown in leaps and bounds ever since the founding of the Yadu dynasty by brothers Vijaya and Krishna in 1399. Since then, both the Wadiyar family and Mysuru city have changed. Vijaya and Krishna helped princess Devajammanni, by defeating chieftain of Karugahalli Maranayaka, who was trying to conquer Mysuru after the death of its chieftain Chamaraja. Maranayaka also wanted to marry Chamaraja’s daughter Devajammanni. However, Vijaya married Devajammanni and assumed the title Yaduraya Wadiyar.

Mysuru expanded with the annexation of Srirangapatna and shifting of the capital to the island in River Cauvery by Raja Wadiyar, who became an independent king in 1610, breaking free from the Vijayanagar Kingdom. The Wadiyar kings were involved in expansion of their kingdom and defending their borders till 1732 when Kantirava Narasaraja Wadiyar died. Chamaraja Wadiyar VII fell into the hands of the dalvoys and during the rule of Krishnaraja Wadiyar II, Hyder Ali usurped power and was succeeded by his son Tipu Sultan. After the death of Khasa Chamaraja Wadiyar IX in 1796, till the fall of Tipu Sultan in 1799, when Mummadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar was crowned, there was no king.

After Mummadi was crowned, it was a new beginning for both the Yadu dynasty and Mysuru city as the capital was shifted. Since then, the Wadiyars came under the protection of the British. So they started concentrating on welfare measures for the benefit of the people and Mysuru began growing beyond the fort. The main focus of the Wadiyars was education and creation of job opportunities.

Benevolent king

From 1831 to 1868, Mummadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar was just a titular king under the British monarchy and received a princely pension. It was a hefty pay without any duties and responsibilities, so he turned to charity and started schools and colleges, according to historians. Thus many schools and institutions, including the Raja Free School, were established. Those institutions received royal patronage under the later kings the tenth Chamaraja Wadiyar, Nalvadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar and Jayachamaraja Wadiyar and flourished. Now, the institution only basks on its past glory.