# Shakthi Series - Bangalore Nagarathnamma

 

Shakthis Who Shaped our Society

#1 Bangalore Nagarathnamma – An Artist and a philanthropist (1878 -1952)

Did you know that Bangalore Nagarthnamma was the first ever woman to pay taxes in the 1900s and was the first woman to go overseas to perform a concert and the first woman to have male accompanists for her concerts? This brave lady had many more credits to her name. She was a multi linguist, a singer, a dancer and also a writer. An interesting and talented lady even today but imagine what she would have been 100 years ago.

Early childhood and career

Nagarathnamma broke many barriers that were considered male bastions in those days. As a child she was abandoned by her father and found refuge with her uncle. Originally from Nanjangud near Mysore, she moved to Bengaluru where she learnt English, Sanskrit, Telugu and Kannada. She also became very proficient in singing and dancing. Over the years, many princely states including that of Mysore, Travancore and Vijayanagara patronised her art. (In those days, the artistes were patronised by rich people or the princely states.)

On the advice of one of her mentors, Nagarathnamma moved to Chennai, where she became well known as Bangalore Nagarathnamma where her origins became like a prefix. She became extremely popular and successful. So much so that she became the first woman artist to pay income tax in Madras (now Chennai).

Thyagaraja Aradhana and Bangalore Nagarthnamma

As a performing artist, Bangalore Nagarathnamma visited the samadhi (place of death) of Saint Thyagaraja. (Saint Thyagaraja is considered as one of the three pillars of Carnatic music (a southern music tradition). He has composed thousands of songs on many deities , his favourite being Lord Shriram. His compositions were regularly sung by performing artistes and also by dancers. )

Nagarathnamma as a doyen of south Indian music would have rightfully used many of these during her performances. She was very sad to see the condition of the samadhi of Thyagaraja Swamy. Being a leader she enquired why it was in that state. The reason for this was the usual state of rivalry and factional fights.

Nagarathnamma was told that the disciples of her Guru Bidaram Krishnappa – Sundara Bhagavathar and Krishna Bhagavathar – were conducting annual festivals at the birth place of the saint. As with many groups, difference of opinions and ego issues cropped up and they split up. There were two factions performing but the upkeep of the samadhi was derelict.

Resurrecting the Samadhi

Instead of waiting for others to do anything, Nagarathnamma decided to take matters into her hands and build a place of worship for this great saint composer. How to get the money? She was not worried. She sold all her possessions and acquired the land on which the samadhi stood. She consecrated it with an image of the Saint composer and built a temple and ensured proper rituals were conducted.

All she wanted to do was give this saint composer the respect that he deserved and a place for performing artistes to pay homage. Were people happy and praised her? Surprise, surprise – No.

Starting the third group

The year was 1926. The temple construction and consecration were over. The two rival factions were performing music but did not let the Nagarathnamma perform. The men did not allow her to perform concerts or even her core area of Harikatha (reciting puranic stories with some music). This despite the fact that the entire area was revived thanks to this one lady.

This is where the iron will of this great lady came into the picture. Born in 1878, Nagarathnamma was now nearing 50 years of age. She had fame, wealth, talent and courage. She did not let a group of men decide what should be done. She decided that if the men can have two factions, she will start a third faction – a Women’s wing so to speak. What an absolutely courageous thing to do at that time!! 

To the horror of the two male factions, the women’s concerts became more popular and sought after. We can be sure that the men felt even more upset now.

Nagarathnamma did not stop there. She petitioned the courts for her right over the temple as she had single handedly funded it. Based on this, timing and worship rights were given by the courts.

Uniting of the Fighting factions

In 1940, due to the efforts of one SY Krishnaswami, the factions were united and a single Thyagaraja festival was inaugurated with five of his songs being picked up for a group singing on the day of his death. Nagarathnamma spent the rest of her days at Thiruvayyaru near Saint Thyagaraja’s samadhi. She is buried near him and a statue in her memory has been erected there.

Today the festival is conducted with aplomb where every musician – novice, aspiring, experienced and the famous – wants to be seen and heard by the thousands who visit this place during the Thyagaraja memorial festival. The festival is not only conducted at Thiruvayyaru but in places across India and even globally.

To think the legacy that this great lady left behind has survived and thrived for so many years shows how much of a visionary she was.

The legacy of Bangalore Nagarathnamma is something that every musician reveres and remembers. A great lady by all accounts. Our pranams to this Shakthi.