A recent statement by Karnataka Minister H.C. Mahadevappa claiming that Tipu Sultan laid the foundation stone for the Krishna Raja Sagar (KRS) Dam has ignited a controversy, drawing criticism from historians and political figures. The minister's assertion, made on Sunday, August 3rd, during an event in Srirangapatna, has been refuted by those who maintain that the dam's construction is historically attributed to Maharaja Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar IV.
Mahadevappa, who is the Social Welfare Minister and Mysuru district in-charge, stated that Tipu Sultan was the first to lay the foundation stone for the KRS Dam, but that "nobody has the courage to say this". He further claimed that there is evidence of this on the main gate of the KRS dam. The minister also lauded Tipu Sultan's secular credentials, highlighting the presence of a mosque and a temple in close proximity during his rule, and praising Tipu's abolishment of the Devadasi system, his pioneering of land reforms, and introduction of sericulture to India. He also hailed Tipu Sultan as a freedom fighter who resisted British colonial rule.
However, these claims have been met with strong opposition. Mysuru MP Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar called the minister's statement "ridiculous" and accused him of distorting history for political gain. He asserted that there is no historical evidence to support the claim that Tipu Sultan laid the foundation for the KRS Dam. Yaduveer clarified that while Tipu Sultan may have envisioned a dam in the region, he did not initiate any actual work on the project. He emphasized that the KRS dam's construction is credited to the Mysore royal family, particularly Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar.
Historians have also weighed in on the controversy. According to them, Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar spearheaded the dam's development, employing British engineering methods. It is said that the royal family, including Queen Mother Kempa Nanjammanni and his wife, even pledged their personal jewelry to fund the project, overcoming initial opposition from colonial authorities. The dam was completed in 1931.
The Krishna Raja Sagara Dam, also known as KRS Dam, was built on the Kaveri River and its tributaries, the Hemavathi and Lakshmana Theertha. The dam is located near the Kannambadi village in Srirangapatna taluk of Mandya District. The construction of the dam began in 1911 and was completed in 1931. It was designed by Sir M. Visvesvaraya, a renowned Indian engineer. The dam was commissioned by Krishna Raja Wodeyar IV, the Maharaja of Mysore. The dam was built to provide drinking water and irrigation to the Mysore and Mandya districts. The water from the KRS Dam also flows to the Mettur Dam in Tamil Nadu.
The dam is 2,621 meters (8,600 ft) long and 40 meters (130 ft) high. It has 177 arch-type iron sluices, some of which have automatic doors. The dam's reservoir is approximately 130 square kilometers. The Brindavan Gardens, an ornamental garden, is located at the base of the dam and is a major tourist attraction.
The controversy surrounding Minister Mahadevappa's statement highlights the ongoing debate about historical figures and their legacies in Karnataka.
