The city's history can be found etched in stones erected centuries ago by its rulers, but most of them remain abandoned and forgotten on roadsides or open fields. Often called hero stones, they were placed in various spots to honour the bravery of soldiers or citizens.
Nine such v eeragallu or hero stones — six were found near the Ramanjaneya temple in Bannerghatta and three in Avathi village in Devanahalli on the outskirts of the city — may have a greater chance of surviving. The Karnataka Department of Archaeology, Museums and Heritage has written to the tehsildars of these respective areas to preserve these stones for posterity.
They would have remained unknown had it not been for a fortuitous discovery by Gita U. Badikillaya, the founder director of Destination Heritage, who, along with Swaminathan Natarajan, a heritage enthusiast and IT professional, visited Avathi, the ancestral place of the founding father of Bengaluru, Kempe Gowda I.
“Two months ago, we found one stone lying near the rajakaluve and two others in a field. The beautifully craved stones show that village heroes must have a had connection to Kempe Gowda. One of the stones depicts four cattle along with a hero. This is known as turugal , honouring a hero who died saving cattle, which was considered an asset. The biggest stone is around 5 feet by 3 feet,” said Ms. Badikillaya, who has been creating awareness about the city’s heritage through talks, walks and seminars.
The stones found in Bannerghatta are of varying sizes. “Epigraphist P.V. Krishnamurthy, along with BMTC driver and heritage enthusiast Dhanapal, have also inspected the stones and are trying to establish the time period they belong to. One stone is of a man who was killed by an arrow, which the locals have been worshipping as Lord Anjaneya. Mr. Krishnamurthy is trying to decipher the lettering, which is defaced. There are no records of this stone,” Ms. Badikillaya said.
She informed R. Gopal, Director of Archaeology and Museums, who inspected the stones and told the tehsildars of Devanahalli and Anekal to take steps to preserve these important pieces of history. In his letter to Devanahalli tahsildar, Mr. Gopal said: “The three hero stones are from the time of Magadi Kempe Gowda and should be safeguarded in the same village.”
Mr. Gopal told The Hindu , “I have asked for the stones in Bannerghatta to be installed inside the temple and the ones in Avathi in the tehsildar's office, as these places will not only ensure safety of the stones, but will also allow more people to see them. The tehsildars have promised to do the needful.”
On why the Archaeology Department is not preserving these stones, he said, “There aren’t enough funds. But I have personally requested the commissioner to provide some money for preserving inscription stones in the city.”
Ms. Badikillaya said the process for preservation needs to be expedited. “Effort must be taken to ensure at least stones that known of are saved. Also, the local residents must be made aware of the importance of the stones,” she said.
