Maharaja Krishnaraja Wadiyar IV: The Visionary Architect of Modern Mysore and India's Progressive Legacy

 Part 9: Let's Celebrate Our Own Heroes Who Made India Shine and Flourish. The Macaulay education system since 1835 systematically attempted to erase this history and implant the invaders' narratives in our educational frameworks. Yet, India has demonstrated its resilience, rising from the ashes repeatedly.

Maharaja Krishnaraja Wadiyar IV (1884-1940) ruled Mysore from 1902 to 1940, transforming it into a beacon of progressive governance, often called "Rama Rajya" by Mahatma Gandhi for its emphasis on welfare and development. Despite British oversight, he propelled India's early modernization through extensive infrastructure and social reforms, countering colonial efforts like the Macaulay education policy that marginalized indigenous knowledge.

Key Modernization Achievements:

• Pioneered Asia's first hydroelectric power project at Shivanasamudra Falls in 1902, making Mysore the first state in Asia to generate hydroelectric power.

• Bangalore became the first city in Asia to have electric street lighting in 1905.

• Founded premier institutions: University of Mysore (1916), Indian Institute of Science (1909), and Mysore Iron Works.

• Constructed vital dams including Krishna Raja Sagara (1924), the largest in Asia at that time, boosting agriculture and irrigation.

• Established key industries fostering self-reliance: Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), sandalwood oil factory, iron and steel factories, paper mills, cement, chemical, and fertilizer plants.

• Developed the Mysore State Railway enhancing connectivity.

• Initiated social progress through the Mysore Social Progress Association (1915) and formed the Mysore Chamber of Commerce (1916).

• Supported culture with institutions like Kannada Sahitya Parishat and sponsorship for arts and Carnatic music.

Social Reforms:

• Abolished untouchability and criminalized child marriage for girls below eight years.

• Introduced women's enfranchisement in Mysore in 1923, making it the first Indian state to do so.

• Implemented reservation of 25% government jobs for non-Brahmins based on the Miller Report (1918).

• Established world’s oldest specialized Minto Eye Hospital (1903) and supported healthcare expansion.

• Promoted education for women and backward classes through scholarships and created women's colleges.

• Supported rural upliftment and poverty alleviation programs with sustained financial aid and institutional backing.

Legacy for India's Future:
His successor, Jayachamaraja Wadiyar, continued his progressive vision by integrating Mysore into independent India post-1947, donating palaces to form institutions like the Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI) and HAL, and advancing science, arts, and music. The Wadiyar dynasty exemplifies India's resilient heritage, building enduring institutions despite colonial oppression, offering timeless lessons in visionary leadership for sustainable progress.

This enhanced account underscores the profound impact Maharaja Krishnaraja Wadiyar IV had on modern India’s early social, industrial, educational, and infrastructure development, affirming his title as the "father of modern Mysore" and a model leader in Indian history.