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The Hindu
08-07-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Not Just a Celebration, But a Movement: How Chilume Ravikumar Reimagined 516th Bengalurina Janakana Janmotsava
Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], June 30: In the heart of Karnataka's capital, a remarkable shift occurred this year in the way Kempegowda Jayanthi, the birth anniversary of Bengaluru's founder, was celebrated. While most government-led functions continued the tradition of stage speeches and ceremonial garlands, Chilume Ravikumar, a young Vokkaliga leader and rising civic voice, chose a different path—one that honoured Kempegowda's legacy through action, public involvement, and cultural awakening. Under the banner of the Chilume Ravikumar Foundation, a three-day series of public events unfolded across Bengaluru, capturing the imagination of its citizens and bringing new life to an often-overlooked historic commemoration. Rather than limiting the tribute to a single stage event, Ravikumar's vision expanded it across the city—into its streets, landmarks, and public memory. The celebrations began on June 24 with a powerful act of service—Nadaprabhu Kempegowda Samadhi Parisara Shuddhi Abhiyana, a mass cleaning drive at the Samadhi of Kempegowda. Well before sunrise, volunteers and local residents gathered at the site, joined by NSS/NCC units and civic organizations. Wearing gloves and holding reusable brooms and bags, the crowd stood unified by purpose. After a short welcome briefing, Chilume Ravikumar addressed the group, stating, 'To truly honour Kempegowda, we must first care for what he built. Let this be a symbol of the city we want to protect.' He then flagged off the cleaning drive, which ran till mid-morning and concluded with a collective pledge to follow the founder's ideals of civic discipline, environmental respect, and shared responsibility. The following day, June 25, saw the city bloom in tribute through Pushpārchane Namana, a floral homage to Kempegowda's statues and memorial towers. From Kempegowda International Airport to Lalbagh Tower, Hudson Circle, Vidhan Soudha, KIMS Hospital, and Gavi Gangadeshwara Temple, groups of citizens, students, and cultural performers gathered at each site. Floral garlands, folk music, and spontaneous public expressions filled the air. There were no central speeches or chief guests—just people honouring the founder of their city in their own heartfelt way. 'This feels like how our festivals used to be—more about meaning than media,' said one participant near the Vidhan Soudha statue. The most spiritually resonant moment came on the evening of June 27, with Nadaprabhuge Deepa Namana, a symbolic lighting of 516 oil lamps—each representing a year since Kempegowda's birth. Held at his Samadhi, the space was transformed with deepa mandalas, rangoli art, flowers, and traditional music. Ravikumar lit the central Deepa Stambha, followed by Swamijis and community elders. Attendees were handed traditional home lamps and invited to write personal messages on pledge cards labeled 'This Lamp Is For...' Many wrote tributes to the city, their families, or their hopes for a better Bengaluru. 'This lamp is for my daughter's future,' one mother wrote. Another card read, 'This is for a city without garbage and with greenery.' The event concluded with Kannada poetry recitations, folk songs, and a collective group chant of 'Namma Kempegowda, Namma Hemme' (Our Kempegowda, Our Pride), which echoed across the site. More than a ceremony, it was a renewal—a shared promise to uphold the values that built the city. But perhaps the most memorable chapter of the celebration was reserved for the streets of Avenue Road, where a symbolic reenactment of Bengaluru's founding took place later that night. In a beautifully choreographed tribute, 64 placard-holders formed a human circle representing the old Pete layout—Bengaluru's original township grid. A bullock cart procession symbolized the land survey of the time, while four volunteers raised flags in four cardinal directions, representing the construction of the city's iconic Gopuras (towers). As drums and native flutes played, Chilume Ravikumar performed a Bhoomi Pooja—a recreation of the moment Kempegowda envisioned the city. The entire stretch of Avenue Road became a stage where history was not just remembered, but relieved. Drone cameras captured the aerial spectacle while crowds stood mesmerized on the ground. Children asked questions, grandparents shared stories, and for a moment, Bengaluru's 16th-century origins felt alive in the present. What made this year's celebration truly stand out was not just its scale or symbolism, but its sincerity. Chilume Ravikumar did not centre the events around himself, but around the people. He offered a model of leadership that stepped aside to let the city and its citizens take centre stage. A youth icon rising rapidly through the ranks of Karnataka's cultural and civic spheres, Ravikumar's approach is rooted in development with identity—a balance between progress and heritage. His vision for public service goes beyond political ambition, focusing instead on creating spaces for people to connect, act, and reflect. By reimagining Kempegowda Jayanthi as a participatory public movement, he has set a new benchmark for cultural celebrations that resonate at both emotional and civic levels. For a city as dynamic and diverse as Bengaluru, this year's Kempegowda Jayanthi was more than an event —it was a homecoming. A return to the founder's values, to the spirit of shared growth, and to the pride of belonging to a city built on vision. 'This is a company press release that is not part of editorial content. No journalist of The Hindu was involved in the publication of this release.'
The Hindu
21-06-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Bike taxi riders stage silent protest at Vidhan Soudha in Bengaluru
A group of bike taxi riders assembled in front of Vidhan Soudha in Bengaluru for a silent protest on June 21 against the government of Karnataka for not supporting their business. They want the government of Karnataka to frame rules for bike taxis. Bike taxi riders protest in Bengaluru On June 16, app-based bike taxi operations were told to stop operations across Karnataka, following the refusal of the High Court to stay an earlier order mandating the suspension of such services unless the State introduces regulatory norms under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. On June 13, a Division Bench of the High Court upheld a single judge order dated April 2, which had directed all bike taxi services to wind up operations within six weeks. The move is believed to have affect thousands of riders and commuters. An executive of a leading bike taxi aggregator platform, speaking on condition of anonymity, claimed that over six lakh individuals in Karnataka depend on bike taxi gigs for their livelihood. 'Most of them earn around ₹35,000 a month, and this ban could push many families into financial distress,' the official claimed. Adi Narayana, president of the Bike Taxi Welfare Association, said many riders are approaching the association's offices seeking clarity on their future. 'Most of our captains have EMIs to pay, families to feed, and rent to cover. This is not just about losing a job, it's about losing the ability to survive. Will the government offer any support?' On June 21, some of the affected bike taxi riders turned up in front of Vidhan Soudha for a silent protest. Some of them had come from as far as Nelamangala, Hoskote, Mandya, and Ramanagara. One of them told The Hindu, 'I work in Peenya industrial estate in Bengaluru. My wife works as a maid. We have two children. I was working part-time for a bike taxi operator to supplement my income. Bengaluru is an expensive city, and I could not afford to take care of my family with my salary.' The bike riders had come together for the protest on their own, and were not led by any organisation. On seeing bike taxi riders gathering in front of Vidhan Soudha, police advised them to disperse saying they could not stage a protest at the site without permission. Some of the protesters were taken into custody while the others were told to disperse, or risk arrest. One bike taxi rider told The Hindu, 'We were not aware that we needed permission to protest in front of Vidhan Soudha in Bengaluru. We will come again. Police advised us to taken permission and protest at Freedom Park in Bengaluru.' Following the ban on their operations, a Rapido spokesperson had said, 'This is a difficult time for our captains, who depend on us for their main source of income. They have played a key role in enabling affordable, last-mile transportation for millions across Karnataka.' The company stated that it is actively engaging with the Karnataka Transport Department to develop a regulatory framework that is not only lawful, but also viable for all stakeholders involved. It stressed that the safety of commuters and the well-being of gig workers will continue to be at the heart of its approach. 'We remain optimistic that ongoing discussions with the authorities will lead to a balanced policy framework, similar to those in other States and Union Territories,' the spokesperson had added.
News18
11-06-2025
- Politics
- News18
‘Was Consulted': Siddaramaiah Changes Stance On RCB Event Week After Bengaluru Stampede
Last Updated: Siddaramaiah said: "Govindraj called up the governor and handed me the phone...I told the governor that since I was attending the Vidhana Soudha event, he should too..." After distancing himself from the June 4 RCB felicitation event for days, Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah has now changed his stance — he said he was consulted for the Vidhan Soudha function. The Karnataka government went ahead with a felicitation ceremony for IPL team Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at the Vidhana Soudha on June 4, despite a clear warning from the police about potential security risks. Later that evening, a massive crowd of fans gathered outside the M Chinnaswamy Stadium for celebration of RCB's maiden trophy win in 18 years, resulting in a stampede that left 11 people dead. Siddaramaiah had earlier said his government the state administration had no role in organising the felicitation event at the stadium and that he was merely invited to the Vidhan Soudha function. 'On the 4th of this month, the KSCA and RCB representatives held a felicitation programme for the players. At around 11:29 am, I was invited. They requested to hold the programme, and I agreed. The Chief Secretary also called me about this, and I said yes." 'The governor also attended the felicitation. The media is played it out in such a way, saying that the governor came of his own volition. That's not correct." 'My political secretary Govindraj called up the governor and handed me the phone, telling that the governor too was coming. I told the governor that since I was attending, he should attend as well. He attended, and the felicitation ended in 20 minutes due to the rains. He left from there, and I headed back to my residence," said the CM. In a letter dated June 4, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) MN Karibasvanna had warned of security concerns and flagged these to the DPAR. In a letter addressed to DPAR head G Satyavathi, Vidhana Soudha security division officials flagged serious concerns about inadequate personnel to manage security arrangements for the high-profile event. First Published: June 11, 2025, 18:41 IST
