K. Seshadri Iyer

Sir K. Seshadri Iyer KCSI (b.1845) was an advocate who served as the Dewan of Mysore from 1883 to 1901. He was the second Dewan of Mysore state since the reinstation of the Wodeyar family on its throne in 1881 and was the longest serving Dewan of the princely state as well. He is regarded by most as the "maker of modern Bangalore"

Achievements as Dewan

Seshadri Iyer succeeded Rangacharlu as Dewan of Mysore in the year 1883 and administered Mysore with utmost efficiency for a lengthy span of eighteen years. During his tenure,India's first hydro-electric plant was established at Shivasamudra in the year 1900. The Kolar gold fields of Karnataka were established during his tenure. He constructed the famous Glass House at Lalbagh in 1889 and the Victoria Hospital at Bangalore in the year 1900. His most significant brainchild was, however, the Indian Institute of Science which was eventually established in 1911 after his long tenure had come to an end.

"The Maker of Modern Bangalore"

In 1898, a devastating plague in Bangalore city wiped out most of its population. As a result of this, streets were decongested, roads were widened and sanitation was improved. Hotels made their appearance and many new industrial units came to be established and people got more employment opportunities.

Legacy

Sir K.Seshadri Iyer is regarded as one of the greatest Dewans of Mysore. Robert H.Elliot in his book 'Gold,Sport and Coffee Planting in Mysore' says:

References

External links

# [http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/mp/2002/08/15/stories/2002081500220200.htm The Hindu special on the Dewans of Mysore] .
# [http://www.aero.iisc.ernet.in/history/detailed_history_main.html Detailed history of the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore]
# [http://www.bangalorebest.com/discoverbangalore/sightseeing/TimeLine/1851AD_1900AD.asp.bak A detailed chonology of events which took place between 1850 and 1900 in Bangalore]