Once you land in Mysore city bus stand first thing that appealingly appears next to Palace is the Town Hall called Rangacharlu Memorial Hall, which is heritage site. This two-storey structure was constructed in his memory during 1880s. It is one of the major venues for hosting cultural festival to entertain the visitors during ten-day Dasara festival. It was recently renovated. This centenarian heritage structure has its own interesting history.
Maharaja Chamarajendra Wadeyar laid its foundation stone in April, 1884. This Graeco-Roman edifice has an elevation dominated by projecting frontage with what is called Corinthian grand-columns, in four pairs. Its roof is of heavy entablature of multiple moldings. The windows depict Roman arch with shutters. The sun-rise glazing, adorn the façade of a double-height hall. There are, as I could see, balconies on either side. We can observe cast-iron parapets on the sides. All these are added richness for its outer elegant attraction.
When we see such an attractive Roman structure in the name of an individual, it occurs to my mind that Rangacharlu must have been a very important person who might have done certain yeomen service to the people in the princely state of then Mysore that has enjoyed the benefits of his service to present and future generations.
Therefore it is apt to know about that great personality. Rangacharlu was born in the Chinglepet district, Madras Presidency in Telugu Vadagalai Iyengar family that was economically weak. Rangacharlu pursued his schooling at Pachaiyappa's School and Madras High School. After matriculation, in first class, he was appointed as clerk in Madras Collectorate. He had keen interest in playing chess from his boyhood days.
Rangacharlu was the first Indian magistrate in Madras. He was soon promoted to Head Writer and put up in Salem. He had the credit of publishing two articles namely "Bribery and Corruption in the Revenue Department" and "Mirasi Rights in the Chinglepet and Tanjore Districts". He got promoted as Tahsildar. By 1859, he served as Special Assistant to G. N. Taylor, President of the Imam Commission and then worked in Indian Railways. His services were highly appreciated to get appointed as Commissioner of Madras Railway Company. He served as Deputy Collector of Treasury at Calicut in 1868. He was then invited to join the Mysore civil service.
Rangacharlu first took charge as Comptroller of Mysore palace. His article on “The British Administration of Mysore” was published in London in 1874. He was promoted as Revenue Secretary, where by his extraordinary intelligent and experience he revamped the entire system to increase the efficiency of Indian officials and reduced number of inefficient Europeans drawing high salaries, which resulted in reducing the expenditure to the Exchequer. In appreciation of his services, he was soon promoted as ‘Companion of the Order of the Indian Empire’ in the year 1880. Finally he adorned the prestigious office as Diwan of Mysore on 25.3.1881.
Immediately on assuming charge as Diwan he disbanded, many offices and posts that were unnecessary and thus the revenue was increased considerably. Je lifted ban of sale of sandalwood and developed railway system. Because of his efforts Bangalore-Mysore and Bangalore-Tiptur railway were completed. He was the first to constitute people's representative committee to ventilate common man's views on functioning of the Government, particularly when monarchy or autocracy was the rule of the day. He set up colony for Anglo Indians at Whitefield. He resigned his post as Diwan because of illness and died in Madras on 20.1.1883.
When you are in Mysore, you need not worry about food and accommodation. You can enjoy your holidays as you feel to the extent of your purse.