Temple stands testimony to ‘power’ of Bangalore

Temple stands testimony to ‘power’ of Bangalore
The 200-year-old Sri Sri Sri Adi Vinayaka Temple on Old Madras Road in Ulsoor became one of the few places to get electricity as early as 1917.
The Times of India

Bangalore: This is the story of a temple that has seen Bangalore become 'power'ful!

The Sri Sri Sri Adi Vinayaka Temple on Old Madras Road, Ulsoor, has seen the city's power company metamorphose from the British-era Bangalore Light and Power to Government Electrical Department and thereafter into Karnataka Electricity Board and, ultimately, to Bangalore Electricity Supply Company (Bescom). Bangalore got power in 1905, but the entire city was lighted up only in 1940s. The 200-year-old temple, owned by P.P. Ravindra Kumar family, became one of the few places to get electricity in 1917.

Now Ravindra Kumar continues to be Dharmakartha (trustee) of the temple like his father and grandfather. He has records of correspondence between his grandfather P. Vedachalam and the power company officials. "These records are from 'B' station on M.G. Road,'' he told The Times of India.

Vedachalam, used to be an accountant in the Comptroller of Accounts for Mysore state. "Since he worked in the government, we got a connection. We still have the old meter number (R.R.B. 627) though I'm not sure if this is the original instrument,'' Kumar said. Kumar's family used to own large tracts of land in Bangalore. "We donated eight acres of land for the present Isolation Hospital (treating infectious diseases),'' he said.

While he does not know the quality of the electricity supply in those days, some records do shed light on the situation then. One document concerns electrical work done presumably for the temple. The cost has been given as an exorbitant (for that time) Rs 45! Another letter written by Vedachalam to the assistant superintendent, electrical supply, B station, is a polite request for renewal of the temple's electricity connection. Apparently, the connection was cut because Vedachalam did not provide an estimate on time.