
The History Of Bangalore The Rise And Imprisonment of Kempe Gowda: 1537-1542
The Bengaluru Pete was a runaway success; by the early 1540s, it was regulating itself and thriving with a robust internal economy. Ramjee Chandran details how this local prosperity coincided with a profound political crisis at the imperial capital of Vijayanagara. With the empire strained by internal power struggles and the growing dominance of Aliya Rama Raya, Kempe Gowda's regional success was soon viewed as a potential threat. A critical boundary was crossed when a rumour about the chieftain's rising power reached the court. The consequence was immediate and severe: Kempe Gowda was seized, his territories were confiscated, and he was held captive in Anegundi for five years. This episode explores the political intrigue that led to his downfall and the critical question left unanswered: would the new city of Bengaluru survive its founder's long absence?
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The theme music for the show was composed by German-Indian Koln based percussionist, Ramesh Shotham. Ramjee Chandran's photos by Asha Thadani.
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