Lakshmidevi is the great granddaughter of the king

Chikkaveerarajendra of the Haleri dynasty was last ruler of Kodagu

Akhila Bharata Veerashiava Mahasabha received the members of the ruler’s family

Madikeri:

Descendants of the last ruler of Kodagu, Chikkaveerarajendra of the Haleri dynasty, carrying memories of the glory their ancestors, arrived in the district on Sunday to a rousing reception accorded to them by the members of the Kodagu unit of the Akhila Bharata Veerashiava Mahasabha.

Family

Lakshmidevi, great granddaughter of the last ruler of Kodagu Chikkaveerarajendra, her sons, Praveen Sardesai and his brother Girish, wife of Dr. Sardesai, Anuradha and their two daughters, Deepti and Disha, arrived at the Anechowkur gate on the Kodagu-Mysore border on Sunday afternoon.

The president of the Akhila Bharata Veerashaiva Mahasabha, Kodagu unit, S.P. Mahadevappa and members of the mahasabha from various parts of the district welcomed the royal descendants.

Mr. Mahadevappa said that the British, after wresting power from Chikkaveerarajendra in 1834 and banning him from Kodagu, had prohibited the royal family members from entering Kodagu.

The members had not thought of venturing into the district till 1947. However, Lakshmidevi, paid a secret visit to Kodagu in 1974, thanks to a Minister, who was in the State Government at that time, he said.

Dr. Sardesai is a ENT specialist serving in Hyderabad and his brother is pursuing a business, he said. Dr. Sardesai had also visited Kodagu in 1986 as part of the bird watching team in 1986.

He is said to be a member of the Andhra Pradesh Bird Watchers’ Society. The royal family members were just here to reminisce the past and not to claim any property in the district, Mr. Mahadevappa clarified.

Felicitations

The members were taken to the Bamboo Club in Polibetta and later they went to a private resort in Kakkabe, near Napoklu.

On Monday, the family members were felicitated by Shantamallikarjuna Swamy of Arameri Kalancheri Math near Virajpet.

The members will be felicitated at the Gaddige located in Madapur on Tuesday, Mr. Mahadevappa said.

Lakshmidevi is the great granddaughter of Chikkaveerarajendra and granddaughter of Gangamma, one of the three daughters of Chikkaveerarajendra. Gangamma was married to a zamindar in Hyderabad. Veeramma, the other daughter was married to a prince in Madhya Pradesh and the other Muddamma was married to a former Prime Minister of Nepal, Mr. Mahadevappa said.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> National> Karnataka / by Staff Correspondent / September 29th, 2009