If you have been to Bengaluru or happen to be this city’s resident, public institutions and places named Vani Vilas Circle, Vani Vilasapura Dam, or Vani Vilas Road are a common sight.

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These public places are named after a fearless queen of Mysuru — Kempananjammani Vani Vilasa Sannidhana, who became queen regent after her husband, the 23rd Maharaja of Mysore, Chamarajendra’s untimely death. Married at 12, she was just 26 years old when the king passed away, leaving behind five children — their oldest son was only 10 years old.

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The queen is said to have wept and grieved her husband for two days. But when the third day dawned, Kempananjammani was ready to take charge as queen regent and rule over Mysore state.

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It was almost like she pressed a reset button and derived all the strength she could to make her late husband proud by making the state prosperous.

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Under her rule, the kingdom saw many advance changes, including initiating an irrigation project along with the Dewan of Mysore, Seshadri Iyer, in 1898, which benefited thousands of farmers. The 120-year-old Vanivilasa Sagar in the Chitradurga district, which was built under the Marikanive irrigation project, used to provide irrigation facilities to around 25,000 acres of land in the region.

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The dam was also responsible for the cultivation of areca nut, sugarcane, coconut and more in the area.

She was also actively involved in the Shivanasamudra hydroelectric project which provided electricity to KGF in 1902 and later to Bengaluru.

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However, one of her most notable contributions was the gigantic River Cauvery project. According to News18, she sold her jewellery to fund the construction of the Krishna Raja Sagara (KRS) dam across the river Cauvery in Mysore. She is also credited with giving 372 acres of land to set up the Indian Institute of Science (IISc).

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Keen on women’s education, about 12,000 girls in her kingdom got to study in 235 public schools under her regime. She also established dispensaries and hospitals that provided prenatal and postnatal care for women.

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A progressive queen, Kempananjammani’s regime ended on 8 August, 1902, and the throne was passed to the 18-year-old Maharaja Krishnaraja. And 32 years later, she passed away on 7 July, 1934.

It is important to remember here that the queen aced her responsibilities and discharged her duties at a time when widows weren’t allowed to enjoy luxuries or access even necessities, let alone rule an entire kingdom.

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The viceroy of India, Lord Curzon praised her work and said, “She has set an example of public and domestic virtue which has been of equal value to her people and her family and which has earned for her the admiration and respect of all.”

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