Bangalore Nagaratnammal

Bangalore Nagaratnammal was a scholar, dancer and artist. She was born on November 3 in 1878. Her father was a local vakil of Mysore and her mother Puttulakshmi was his mistress, a devadasi.

After the birth of Bangalore Nagaratnammal, her father abandoned her mother and they were left to leave a poor life. Giribhatta Timmaiyya Sastri, a Sanskrit scholar in the Mysore Court offered them food and shelter. Under his patronage Bangalore Nagaratnammal got the training in Sanskrit and her mother used to teach her music. She became expert in both the disciplines at a very young age of nine. But, her knowledge turned to be her enemy as Timmaiyya Sastri became jealous of her proficiency and stopped providing any help to this mother and daughter.

Bangalore Nagaratnammal mother was very upset for this and undertook a vow that she will never return to Mysore until her daughter becomes a great scholar. Then she moved to Bangalore with he daughter and took shelter under her violinist brother named Venkitasamappa. She used to earn Rs 40 per year there and then spent most of it on getting her daughter tutored in English, Kannada and Telugu besides music and dance. But destiny was not so good with Bangalore Nagaratnammal and her mother died when she was only of 13 years old. Before leaving this world, her mother reminded her brother Venkitasamappa and Bangalore about her unfulfilled vow.

In 1893, there was a concert at the residence of Veena Seshanna, an artiste of the Royal Court. At that time Venkitasamappa presented Bangalore Nagaratnammal in front of all of the artists. She performed very nicely and everybody present there appreciated her performance. As a result, she was invited in the Mysore Court, asking her to perform there on next day itself. Thus, the oath of Puttuswamy to see her daughter performing in big stages was fulfilled.

Bangalore Nagaratnammal became well known in South India as a court dancer and singer by 1903. In 1903, her patron, C.S. Rajarathna Mudaliar invited her to Madras, which was the fast emerging hub of culture then. There she achieved great honours, titles and awards.

In 1910, she went to attend a meeting of scholars in Rajamundry. There many of them were praising a scholar of the 18 the century known as `Muttu Palani`, who had translated the Tiruppavai into Telugu. She was surprised to see that they even did not know her actual name `Muddupalani`. She then informed them that Muddupalani was a very learned devadasi and one of the whores of the Tanjore king Pratapasimha. This particular incident inspired her to publish one of Muddupalani`s works named `Radhika Swantanamu`, which was also known as `Ila Devivam`. It was a highly erotic but beautifully structured work. She published the work spending her own money in 1911. But unfortunately, it was considered as a pornographic work by the Madras government and all the copies of the book were seized and destroyed. Later in 1948, a fresh edition of Radhika Swanthanamu was released.

Bangalore Nagaratnammal also fought for the `Anti Nautch` issue. According to resolution passed by the Madras Legislative Council in 1927, the devadasi system i, e, the dedication of girls in the temples were banned. Moreover, in 1930, a bill was pointed in Legislative Council for the abolition of the Devadasi System by Dr Muthulakshmi Reddy. She herself belonged to the devadasi community. At that time Bangalore Nagaratnammal along with few other friends made their minds to set up a `Madras Devadasi Association`. Handbills were prepared and distributed outside the assembly buildings and also at prominent locations of the city by these groups. They placed the messages of devadasis and their position in a very elegant way. But all these could not stop the bill to be passes at Court. Later, in 1997 the Bill introduced by Dr Reddy became a law.

At some point of time Bangalore Nagaratnammal got married and gave birth to a child. But she lost the child and in October 1921, she adopted a girl, whose parents wanted to kill her by poisoning to get the huge wealth. She was said to have reconstructed and renovated the Samadhi of Tyagaraja. His disciples of two groups were involved in various conflicts and thus they kept the monument neglected. She went to Tiruvaiyaru where and acquired the land surrounding the Samadhi. She constructed a shrine over the Samadhi in 1925. She also ended a custom according to which the women could not enter and worship at the saint`s shrine. By 1925, she relocated to Tiruvaiyaru. She sold her house in Madras in 1929 and donated the money to the Samadhi. In 1948, she made a will and donated all her wealth to the Samadhi on conditions that the annual celebration should be conducted with this money and women will be allowed to enter the shrine.

Bangalore Nagaratnammal died on May 19 in 1952. After her death, her memorial was built near the Samadhi of Tyagaraja. All the citizens gathered during her last rite to mourn on her death.