The President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee inaugurated the Kempe Gowda Festival organized by the Nadaprabhu Kempegowda Foundation in New Delhi, today (April 15, 2017).

Speaking on the occasion the President said that widely regarded as the founder of Bangalore, Kempe Gowda was a ‘just and humane’ ruler under the Vijayanagara kings. His genius lay in the fact that he could visualize and implement planned urban development that stands out, as early as in the 16th century A.D. It is a testimony to this genius of Kempe Gowda that Bangalore, despite unprecedented challenges of population, traffic and environmental pollution, remains the Garden City even today.

The President was glad to learn that ‘Nada Prabhu Kempe Gowda Foundation’ founded on April 17 last year by His Holiness Jagadguru Sri Sri Sri Nimalanandanatha Swamiji is working towards popularizing Nada Prabhu Kempe Gowda. The President extended his good wishes to the Foundation and hoped that it will achieve its objectives.

This release issued at 1920 hrs.