- Kempe Gowda was a chieftain under the Vijayanagara kings and ruled over most parts of Karnataka in the 16th century.
- He was born in 1513 in a village near Yelahanka.
- Kempe Gowda was a just and humane ruler and is widely accepted as the founder of Bangalore.
- He visualized a city with military cantonment, water tanks, temples etc. that provide employment to tradesmen.
- Subsequently, he approached the Vijayanagara kings for the approval and laid the foundations for Bangalore City in 1532.
- Kempe Gowda’s planned city had eight access gates and wide roads.
- He ensured that collection of revenue is just and equitable in the city.
- Planned urban development of the Bengaluru city is a testimony to the capability of Kempe Gowda that even today despite unprecedented challenges of population, traffic and environmental pollution, Bengaluru remains as a Garden City.
- In the 1550s, Kempe Gowda struck coins known as Pagodas.
- This act of his incurred the displeasure of the Vijayanagara kings and he was imprisoned for five years.
- After an illustrious reign of three decades, Kempe Gowda died in 1570.
- Why in news? President inaugurated Kempe Gowda festival