Kempegowda As ‘Nada Prabhu’: A Misplaced Homage?

Today, on the 516th birth anniversary of Kempegowda, the Government of Karnataka has once again pulled out all stops to commemorate his legacy. Full-page newspaper ads, state-sponsored functions, and mass mobilisations mark the occasion. While the city of Bengaluru may rightly remember its founder with gratitude, the attempt to project Kempegowda as Nada Prabhu — the lord of the land — across the entire Karnataka raises troubling questions about the selective use of history and the quiet marginalisation of others who shaped this land.


The term Nada Prabhu implies a chieftain of the land, a figure of statewide significance. But history tells us otherwise. Kempegowda was a local ruler, a feudal subordinate under the Vijayanagara Empire, whose jurisdiction was limited to the present-day Bengaluru and a few adjacent taluks. His legacy lies in urban planning and city-building — not state-building. To label him as the lord of Karnataka (Nada Prabhu) is not only a historical inaccuracy but also a symbolic overreach.

This glorification is not accidental. Over the years, especially post-independence, there has been a systematic effort—primarily driven by Vokkaliga political leadership and the elite of Old Mysuru — to elevate Kempegowda to a pan-Karnataka icon. While pride in local heroes is natural, what is concerning is the deliberate silence or sidelining of other rulers and statesmen who had a far wider influence and contributed richly to the formation and development of Kannada identity across regions.

What does this say to the people of North Karnataka, Coastal Karnataka, Malnad, and Hyderabad-Karnataka regions? Should they passively accept the state’s Bengaluru-centric version of history? Should rulers like Shivappa Nayaka of Keladi, Mayura Sharma of Banavasi, the Kadambas, Chalukyas, Rashtrakutas, Hoysalas, and the Wodeyars of Mysore be relegated to footnotes in public memory — despite their far greater administrative, military, linguistic, and cultural legacy?

The truth is, Karnataka is not Bengaluru. Geographically and culturally, Bengaluru makes up less than 5% of the state’s territory. Yet, the way Kempegowda is projected, it would seem as though the rest of the state owes its history to him. This is a deep injustice, not only to historical fact but to the shared pride of a diverse state forged through centuries of struggle and synthesis.

The government’s one-sided focus on Kempegowda also reflects vote-bank politics. Vokkaliga-dominated districts and Bengaluru’s urban clout dictate electoral strategies, and historical memory is being shaped accordingly. This is not cultural celebration — it is identity manipulation.

History must unite, not divide. Karnataka must celebrate all its historical icons, across all regions and communities, not just those that serve current political or regional interests. Kempegowda deserves respect — but not at the cost of erasing the memory of those who truly built the idea of Karnataka as we know it today.

If the government wishes to truly honour Karnataka’s past, it must balance the narrative and rediscover the legacy of other forgotten rulers — lest we reduce our proud history to a single statue and a single city.

Location: Mangaluru, Karnataka, India

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