Though most of the circles in Bangalore have disappeared, the pillars built several decades back to denote the progress of the City have remained still to tell their tales. Ashoka Pillar at Jayanagar is one such attractive land mark of the city.
It was the project of the City Improvement Trust Board ( CITB), and was inaugurated by the then Governor General of India, Sri C.Rajagopalachari (Rajaji) on August 20, 1948. The construction of the structure was completed in a record period of 10 days by the engineer P.S. Ranganathachar( PSR Char). The total amount spent for the construction was Rs. 3000. Each bag of cement cost Rs. 3 and Rs 6 for thousand bricks and Rs.1 for labour charges.
PSR Char, a versatile person of varied interests, recalls in his autobiography, how the process of building such a rare memorial was carried out. At that time R. Madhavan was the Municipal Engineer in Bangalore City Corporation. He was known to Mr. PSR Char. When R. Madhavan became the chief Engineer of CITB, the very first work he entrusted to PSR Char was construction of an Inaugural Pillar to mark the beginning of newly formed Extension Jayanagar. The Pillar, in a circle near Kankanapalya, is of about twenty feet in height with four faced lion at the top. It had to be completed within ten days as Sri Rajaji was to inaugurate the same on August 20, 1948. Obviously, this was an honour saving situation for both the Chairman C. Narasinga Rao and R. Madhavan, the chief Engineer of CITB. The work had to progress in spite of very bad weather. The sculptor working on four lion faces, after initiating the work ran away leaving the people involved in lurch. Then PSR Char’s Mason Arunachalam who was also skilled at ornamental work had to be entrusted to complete the task working throughout the previous night of the inauguration The Governor General arrived on specified time, viewed the structure with interest and inaugurated the Pillar. Immediately after this, he was taken a few yards away to lay foundation stone for the building of Mysore Riyasat Hindi Prachar Samiti
Seeing the skillful work and wider appreciation Ashoka Pillar received, R. Madhavan entrusted the task of another inaugural pillar to commemorate the beginning of an Industrial suburb, later named as Rajajinagar. The memorial is in a small park at the junction of present Dr. Rajkumar Road and Chord Road near Govt Soap Factory.
The column looks like a war memorial. But a closer look reveals that it is a memorial built to mark the beginning of Rajajinagar. The plaques give complete details of the areas entrusted for various purposes. The pillar was inaugurated by the then Maharaja of Mysore Sri Jayachamaraja Wadiyar Bahadur on July 3, 1949.
The memorial has a three-faced pedestal of coloured granite stone on which rests an about 20 ft. tall pillar. The top end, shaped like a blossoming lotus indicated then, that the city was blooming into huge industrial city. Now, work is in progress to make this little park more attractive.
This was an RCC pillar with pedestals of dressed granite stones. The work on extra podium involved in the job could not be carried out at the spot . They were carried to Vishveshvarapuram and brought back after the dressing and polishing. This task was carried out in a record time of two days by which time RCC pillar was also ready. Very interesting aspect to be observed is, the extension which was named after Maharaja Jayachamaraja Wadiyar was inaugurated by Sri Rajaji, whereas the other one named after Rajaji was inaugurated by Maharaja Jayachamaraja Wadiyar. Secondly, The Ashoka pillar has only etched figure of Gandaberunda, the royal emblem of Mysore Kingdom, where as in Rajajinagar Pillar the same is a relief structure done on the pedestal.
Appreciating the excellent work carried out in record time, both the Chairman and the Chief Engineer gave a special appreciation letter to PSR Char. PSR Char was also a good photographer. He had taken several photographs of both of his creations and wanted to present them to Sri C. Rajagopalachari. Later, when Sri Rajaji became Home Minister, he had come to Bangalore. An opportunity was given to PSR Char to meet The Minister at the Residence of Navarathna Rama Rao. PSR Char specially made a moulded casket with his photographs of both the pillars and the copies of appreciation certificates and also a tube bulb inside for display at night. At that special moment, PSR Char’s brother-in-Law Krishnaswamy , and Nitturu Srinivasa Rao were present. After Sri Navaratna Rama Rao formally introduced PSR.Char to Rajaji, he asked several questions regarding the technicalities of the photographs and later happily gave an autograph on the duplicate set of photographs. He even asked for an extra set of the pictures. For PSR Char this was a great moment of life. He made a similar casket and gave it to his son PR Ramaswamy, who is as versatile as his father was.
PSR Char is involved in various other constructions in Bangalore and they all stand hard even today, as a testimony to his contribution to the city.
A tower at Hudson Circle (Kitturu Rani Chennamma Circle) represent the BBMP. The tall pedestal of about sixty feet tall and a replica of Kempe Gowda tower at the top was dedicated to Bangalore after BBMP was formed in 2006-07 to administer the city. The foundation stone for the same was laid on 11.7.2004 and was inaugurated on 4.11. 2006. With well-laid garden it is another prominent landmark of the city.
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