DASARA, the symbol of Naari-Shakti!

Mysuru Dasara

It was Dasara time during 1987.  I had planned to construct a house of my own.  Unable to mobilize money for purchase of a small housing site, I had gone to Mysuru along with my wife Smt. Anasuya to seek a hand-loan from her maternal uncle.  For some reasons we could not get the loan.  With a gloomy mood and no other work 

to do, we chose to visit the Mysuru Palace where the tourist guide told us the inspiring story of construction of KRS dam.

Krishna Raja Wodeyar (IV) was the greatest Mysuru King who built the KRS dam. Wodeyar had the far-sight of appointing           

Bharat Ratna Sir.M.Visveshvaraiah as his Deewan who planned and took up construction of the dam.  For a small Kingdom like Mysuru, it was very difficult to mobilize money.  When the job got struck-up in between for want of money, Maharaja sought loan from various quarters including the British Rulers.  Maharaja and Vishvesvaraiah

 were deeply worried.  Maharani Paratapa Kumari Ammani understood the King's problem, and came forward to offer her entire set of jewels for pledge.  King had no other way.  He pledged Maharani's jewels to Bombay Gold Market and brought money!  Inspired by Maharani's sacrifice, women workers of the dam offered to postpone receiving wages.  They also compelled their husbands to do so. And because of the spirit of Naari-shakti, the 

dam was completed. 

My wife who passionately heard the entire story was looking moved. She offered to sell whatever small jewels and silver items she had to get me money for purchase of the housing site.  With her active support I too was able to construct my 'small palace'.

Can there be a better example of Naari-shakti and the spirit of their sacrifice?  

Naari-shakti Zindabad

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(I am indebted to the sources of the pictures used here.  Thanks to them)