CM Shivakumar Dedicates Statues, Clock Tower in Ramanagara
Synopsis
Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar dedicated statues of Nadaprabhu Kempegowda and Swami Vivekananda, a new clock tower, and a municipality assembly hall in Ramanagara, inaugurating the district's Kannada Rajyotsava 2026 programme.
Key Takeaways
Shivakumar presided over multiple dedications in Ramanagara on 7 November 2026 .
Statues of Nadaprabhu Kempegowda (16th-century founder of Bengaluru) and Swami Vivekananda were unveiled to the public.
A new clock tower and the municipality's new assembly hall were also inaugurated at the same event.
The CM formally opened Ramanagara's Kannada Rajyotsava programme for the year.
Karnataka governments have combined Rajyotsava observances with local infrastructure dedications since the 1970s .
Karnataka's Kannada Rajyotsava season reached Ramanagara on 7 November 2026 with a cluster of civic and cultural dedications — statues of two towering figures, a new clock tower, and a fresh municipal hall all unveiled in a single ceremony presided over by Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar.
What was unveiled at Ramanagara
The Chief Minister's Office of Karnataka confirmed that CM Shivakumar dedicated statues of Nadaprabhu Kempegowda — the 16th-century chieftain credited with founding Bengaluru — and Swami Vivekananda, the philosopher-monk whose words on Indian heritage and youth remain a staple of public discourse, to the people of Ramanagara. Alongside the statues, a new clock tower and the district municipality's freshly built assembly hall were inaugurated. The CM also formally opened the district's Kannada Rajyotsava programme for the year.
Rajyotsava dedications: a Karnataka tradition since the 1970s
Kannada Rajyotsava, observed every November 1 to mark the 1956 reorganisation of linguistic states that created Karnataka, has long been paired with infrastructure ribbon-cuttings and statue installations across district headquarters. The practice — running in some form since the 1970s — turns the state-formation anniversary into a visible delivery moment for local civic works. Ramanagara, a district in southern Karnataka historically linked to silk production and rocky terrain, sits close to Bengaluru and has been a frequent stop on the CM's district circuit.
Kempegowda and Vivekananda: why these two figures
Nadaprabhu Kempegowda carries particular resonance in this region — his identity as a Vokkaliga chieftain and the symbolic founder of Bengaluru gives him deep cultural weight in the districts surrounding the capital. Swami Vivekananda, meanwhile, is a cross-party touchstone in Indian public life, invoked at youth events and civic ceremonies by administrations of every political stripe. Pairing the two in a single installation signals both local pride and a broader civilisational narrative the state frequently deploys during Rajyotsava season.
With similar programmes scheduled across Karnataka's districts in the days surrounding November 1, Ramanagara's ceremony is one node in a statewide commemorative arc — but the combination of two high-profile statues, a civic amenity, and a new municipal space makes it a fuller dedication than most district events.
Point of View
Inaugurating a Kempegowda statue in a predominantly Vokkaliga-significant district just days after November 1 carries quiet political symbolism alongside its cultural content. The pairing with Swami Vivekananda broadens the appeal beyond any single community, a standard gesture in state-level public programming. Taken across all districts, this pattern of annual statue-plus-infrastructure unveilings quietly builds a visual record of governance — one local ceremony at a time.
NationPress
7 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did CM DK Shivakumar inaugurate in Ramanagara?
CM D.K. Shivakumar inaugurated statues of Nadaprabhu Kempegowda and Swami Vivekananda, a new clock tower, and the Ramanagara municipality's new assembly hall, also formally opening the district's Kannada Rajyotsava programme.
What is Kannada Rajyotsava and when is it celebrated?
Kannada Rajyotsava is observed every November 1 to mark the 1956 linguistic reorganisation that formed Karnataka as a separate state. It is marked by official programmes, cultural events, and civic dedications across all districts.
Who was Nadaprabhu Kempegowda?
Nadaprabhu Kempegowda was a 16th-century chieftain widely credited with founding Bengaluru and laying its early administrative framework. He is a major cultural symbol in Karnataka.
Where is Ramanagara district located?
Ramanagara is a district in southern Karnataka, situated close to Bengaluru. It is historically known as Closepet and is noted for silk production and distinctive rocky terrain.
Is it common for Karnataka CMs to combine Rajyotsava with statue inaugurations?
Yes. Karnataka administrations have routinely combined Rajyotsava celebrations with statue unveilings and local infrastructure dedications in district centres since the 1970s, turning the anniversary into a visible governance moment.
