Vruddhapitamaha, Dayasagara Sri M. Venkatakrishnaiah – A Man with many Dimensions

Vruddhapitamaha, Dayasagara Sri M. Venkatakrishnaiah popularly known as the “Grand Old Man of Mysore” filled many high roles as educationist, social reformer, rationalist, civil servant, Philanthropist and litterateur and so on. Rightly, he is known as a Grand old man and his contribution to the awakening of independence and freedom among the people of old Mysore state was the most significant. He was a legend not only in his time but continues to be so even now. His contribution to Journalism as well as several spheres of national work were of an exemplary nature. His position in the public life of Mysore was a pre-eminent one. He was loved & respected not only by the people of Mysore, but by the men in authority also during his life time.

It seems the present younger generation completely unaware about M Venkatakrishnaiah, better known as Tataiah, one of the architects of Mysore city. His contribution is significant in making Mysore ‘Shikshana Kashi’ an educational hub and making it into a model city. The versatile personality in Venkatakrishnaiah made him to contribute in a number of fields including Social Service, Literature, Journalism, Education, Polity etc.

Throughout his life he fought for the upliftment of the poor and downtrodden. He struggled hard to eradicate untouchablity and for woman education. In his honour, the Mysorians has built a statue at ‘Tataiah Park’ in front of Mysore City Bus Stand. Sri M. Venkata Krishnaiah was known as Dayasagara, the very Ocean of kindness. He was full of the milk of human kindness & started an Orphanage Anathalaya, which housed & continues to house hundreds of students. He became the father of the fatherless. He was a keen social reformer & did his best to eliminate some of the social evils that have crept into our society down the ages. As a social reformer he worked for the eradication of social evils like caste system, untouchability and fought for the educatin of girls and for the remarriage of widows. Like Mahatma Gandhi he was keen on the regeneration of the Civilization and the Culture of India free from corrupting influences. The most important part of Venkata Krishnaiaha’s life work was as a public man and journalist. These two capacities were of course complementary to each other. Besides many beneficent activities one of his great services to the country was to mobilize public opinion in his capacity as the editor of newspaper and act as a critic. But his criticism was of a constructive nature and never destructive. As an educationist of renown, who was responsible for the founding and the maintenance of a number of educational institutions like Marimallappa, Sadvidya, Sharada Vilas, Maharani’s etc. which speaks volumes for the great work which he accomplished as a far-seeing educator. His dominant note had always been that of teacher; not merely the teacher of this special subject or that, but the teacher of the ideals of life and conduct. Also he was a political guru to many budding young patriots. Many of them in after years, distinguished themselves remarkably well as lawyers, Judges, Politicians, Doctors, Journalists and Teachers. He thus laid a foundation for the study of Public questions needless to say, that this is an asset to any country and bound to survive long. Writing Tataiah’s life story means nothing but to write Mysore history itself. Born and brought-up in a poor family at Magge village, Heggadadevana Kote, in 1844, Tataiah had a first-hand experience with poverty and the problems of illiteracy. Hence he focused on education and led an educational movement. Though his formal education was up to Matriculation only, his stint as a teacher and lecturer was more than four decades. There are a number of educational institutions started and maintained by Tataiah including Marimallappa School, Maharani College, Sharada Vilas College and Sadvidya School. He opened many Hostels and asylums to encourage poor students. He started girl’s schools in an era in which women were denying to get education. He encouraged widow remarriages; he opened many skill training centers and job courses exclusively for widows. The notable point is he had opened many schools, hostels and job oriented courses exclusively for Harijans prior to the Harijan movement of Mahatma Gandhi. His contribution for Kannada Journalism is also significant. In a view to motivate Kannada Journalism and to make socio-political awareness among the people he launched a number of Kannada journals including ‘Saadhvi’, ‘Udaya Chintamani’, ‘Vidya Dayini’, ‘Vrittanta Chintamani’, ‘Hita Bodhini’, ‘Sampadabhyudaya’ etc. He also launched many English journals such as ‘Wealth of Mysore’, ‘Mysore Patriot’, ‘The Civil and Social Journal’, ‘Nature Cure’ etc. Tatayya’s contribution to Kannada literature consists of ‘Dhanarjaneya Krama’ (How to earn money), ‘Choragrahana tantra’ (the technique of detecting thieves) ‘Telemacus’, ‘Vidyarthi karabhushana’ (Students manual) etc. In recognisation of its worth, he was elected president of the ‘Akhila Bharatha Kannada Sahithya Sammelana’ held at Davanagere. What else, Tataiah was the one who was responsible in bringing Sir M Vishweshwaraiah from the services of Mumbai Government to the Mysore presidency. Knowing the ability, knowledge and efficiency of Vishweshwaraiah, Tataiah convinced the then Maharajas of Mysore to appoint him as the Diwan of Mysore. From Ravindranath Tagore to Vivekananda to Jawaharalal Nehru, all has showered praises upon Tataiah for his selfless services. Mahatma Gandhi has called him as ‘Bheeshma of Mysore’. His kindheartedness and sympathy for the poor and helpless were well-known; The Anathalaya in Mysore is a standing monument to his service for helping destitute or Orphans. This Website is intended to be a living monument of his activities, the spirit of adventure, the magnanimity, the large-heartedness, the love of humanity & the other great qualities which animated a long life dedicated selflessly to the Service of humanity. Let us follow the path shown by reformers like Venkatakrishnaiah and shed light wherever there is darkness.