There was a letter to the Editor in Star of Mysore [3.9.1991] by RK Srinivasan [an old resident of Mysore, he says]. He was curious to know how names to localities or streets came into being.

On 23rd that month, one BS Subba Row wrote from Bangalore trying to detail some of his queries:

1. Weavers' Lines has a correct meaning as there were weavers producing handloom. Krishnamurthy Puram was later named after the worthy Dewan Sir PN Krishnamurthy.

2. He says there was water even in 1910 in Subbarayana Kere.

3. D.Subbaiah came from Andhra as a teacher to HH Sri Chamarajendra Wodeyar and his son Sri D.Ramaiah was a manager of the Palace Office. [D.Subbaiah Road]

4. Bojjanna Lane [in Chamarajapuram]: Bojjanna was a big sowcar of Kunchitiga community who built houses for Brahmins and gifted them.

5. Kanne Gowda [Koppal]: He was a famous wrestler and a leading person in the village in. This is on the western side of Chamarajapuram Railway Station.

6. Sri Shivaram came from South Canara, the grandfather of Sri Vittal Rao who built a Rama Temple.
[where? ... on Narayana Sastry Road?]

There are many such intriguing names yet to be deciphered.
Narayana Sastry, Makkaji [Chowk], Ane Sarot, Nallappa [Thana], Ramachandra [Agrahara], Hanumantha Rao [Street], Prabha [Talkies], Devaparthiva, Gita, Vishnuvardhana Roads, Manuvana Park in Chamarajapuram............

Krishnaraja Boulevard that runs from Law Courts to the Oriental Research Institute was the brainchild of the revered King. He had seen a Boulevard somewhere in France [or so] on his European tour and he wanted to have one in his beloved city. Hence this came into being [now being defaced with ugly hoardings.. lawn.. lights.. those stone benches under the trees are gone! They have killed!]

Yes, I had written an article on VV in SOM more than a year ago. Will try and bring it in here.

There was a move about 6 years ago when they made the Vani Vilas Road, double, to rename it as Mahatma Gandhi Road. The bust of Gandhi opposite Law Court says that. They tried to put up an ugly concrete board somewhere which was severely protested by the Ursu Community, rightly. I'm with them too. I hate to see people using 'MG Road' on boards and even addresses now. Something must be done to highlight it and at the same time, remove the name of MG from this road. They can call it from Purnaiah's Choultry eastwards. But Vani Vilasa's name must be ON from Law Courts till the Choultry. Those fellows does not seem to know the value of VV's contribution to Mysore!

MG was a great man no doubt but he would have never agreed to have his name splattered across any road or building or anything else for that matter. Politicians need to put themselves in MG's shoes (or chappals) and imagine how the Mahatma would have responded to the idea of his name being profusely used. He would not have allowed it. The citizenry should not have allowed it. I guess the Ursu community did not use their poilitical clout to overturn this. The protest should have been kept up.

Thanks Dinakar for highlighting this "name change". Any suggestions from bloggers as to what course of action is suitable? Has anyone petitioned the MCC or MUDA? I'd volunteer to sign any petition to this effect. I agree with Dinakar that the road heading east from Purniah's choultry may be named as Mahatma Gandhi road, if it pleases the politicians. It would still not have pleased the Mahatma whose name continues to be misused by politicians.

Some months back, our city saw a naming spree. The thing is they just hold a function, put up an ugly concrete banner with paint [that goes off in a couple of seasons] and then forget it. Will the autowalla take us if we ask him to take to Javagal Srinath Circle [there usually will be no 'circle'] or to Agaram Rangaiah Circle, or to MN Jois Circle? No! How many of us know where 'Ashoka Circle' is? It is actually what we call(ed) 'Ballal Circle' [erstwhile Ballal Hotel or 'Bellary hotel'!!!] Naming is a gimmick these days as people are not made to develop the sentiment towards the city.