Table Of ContentLALBAGH
SULTANS' GARDEN TO PUBLIC PARK
V.R. Thiruvady
Bangalore Environment Trust
LALBAGH
Sultans' Garden to Public Park
1st Edition November 2020
Published by Bangalore Environment Trust (BET)
No.10, Sirur Park 'B' Street,
Seshadripuram, Bangalore 560020
Email: [email protected].
Bangalore
Environment
Trusf
© Vijay Thiruvady
Email: [email protected]
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No part of this book may be
reproduced or transmitted in any form whatsoever, electronic, or
mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any
information storage or retrieval system without the specific written,
dated and signed permission from the author.
Author: V.R.Thiruvady ISBN fil-ñTLSO-TM-?
ISBN: 81-89650-94-7
b 5 o m 5
Printed In India
Grafiprint Pvt Ltd. (Division of W. Q. Judge Press)
97, Residency Road, Bangalore 560025
Phone: 080 22211168
Dedicated to the memory of
Zafar Rashid Futehally (1920-2013)
Ecologist, Conservationist and Founder of
Bangalore Environment Trust.
Room No. 301-301A
Dr. NARAYANA GOWDA 3rd Floor, Vidhana Soudha
Minister for Municipal Bengaluru-01
Administration, Horticulture and Ph: 080-22253747
Sericulture 22033273
No. MAHS/M/130^2020 Date:
Message
I have come to know that Bangalore Environment Trust in association
with Department of Horticulture, Government of Karnataka is bringing out a
book on History of Laibagh. •
Sri Tiruwadi, Trustee, Bangalore Environment Trust has undertaken
the research project to trace the Laibagh history, which took him more than
five years to compile the documents right from 15lh century, i.e from Kempe
Gowda’s regime till date.
The book brings out the immense contribution of every eminent
scientist during British rule that developed rapport with world famous “Kew
garden,” London and other botanical gardens across the world. Their effort
for enriching the botanical features in Laibagh is very unique in the country.
It is a privilege that during my tenure as Minister for Horticulture
Department, such an invaluable book on the history of Laibagh is coming
out for the use of people from all walks of life especially for scientists of life
sciences.
The contribution of various officers in establishing gardens all over
the state on Horticulture farms and gardens reveal their vision to promote
vegetables, fruits floriculture and various other scientific activities.
The efforts of the Department of Horticulture, GOK and Bangalore
Environment Trust in bringing out the history of Laibagh is highly
appreciated. I am sure that this well documented book will inspire the
present and future generation to preserve nature’s gift to mankind.
(Dr. NARAYANA GOWDA)
Contents
Preface vii
Introduction ix
Acknowledgements xii
Chapter 1: Genesis
— Geology, Archaeology, Fossils and Artefacts 1
Chapter 2: Early Times
— From Kemputhota to Sultans' Pleasure Garden 12
Chapter 3: European Entry
— Advent of Modem Botany 24
Chapter 4: Benjamin Heyne
— Changes Under a German Missionary 31
Chapter 5: Major General Gilbert Waugh
— Under the Keep of an Army Paymaster 39
Chapter 6: General William Munro
— Beginning the Study of the Flora of Bangalore 43
Chapter 7: Dr. H.F.C. Cleghorn
— Devout Surgeon from Scotland 49
Chapter 8: Exhibitions
— Platforms for Educating and Delighting the Public 59
Chapter 9: Botanical Illustrations
— Capturing the Features and Beauty of Plants 64
Chapter lOrWhat's in a Name?
— Many Names Before Lalbagh Emerges 91
Chapter 11: Structures in Lalbagh
— Catering to Different Needs 96
Chapter 12: William New
— The First of the Kew Gardeners 115
Chapter 13: Allan Adamson Black
— Addition of Aviary and Menagerie 120
Chapter 14: John Cameron
— Laying the Foundation of Modem Lalbagh 125
Chapter 15: Gustav Hermann Krumbiegel
— A Versatile Genius 144
Chapter 16: H. C. Javaraya
— The First Indian Kew Gardener 181
Chapter 17: M.H. Marigowda
— Nodal Role for Lalbagh 197
Chapter 18: The Future
— A Vision for Lalbagh 215
Addendum I — Chapter 4 refers 218
Addendum II — Chapter 14 refers 223
Addendum III — Chapter 15 refers 228
Addendum IV — Chapter 16 refers 234
Map of Mysore — 1831 236
Glossary 237
Bibliography 239
Index 243
Preface
Commencing 2005, I have been conducting walks on Sunday
mornings in Lalbagh for interested visitors. Five years into conducting
these walks, I had written a book on Heritage Trees... with most of the
trees being from Lalbagh itself. Emboldened, I found myself giving talks
in different institutions in Bangalore on Lalbagh, greening of Bangalore
and related subjects.
Given that the walks and talks were well-received, I felt that the
story of Lalbagh in full detail needs to be told: a chronicle of 250 years
which should interest botanists, pomologists, horticulturalists and the
general public. Not that there are no published accounts of Lalbagh but
none, as far as I know, covering its origins, transformations and
evolution into what it is today.
In "Deccan Traverses" by Anuradha Mathur and Dilip Da Cunha
(2006), the authors devote only one chapter to trace the history of
Lalbagh briefly with the aim of showing how the garden has had a
continuous existence as part of the changing terrain of the city.
In 1991, The Glass House: The Jewel of Lalbagh was published by The
Mysore Horticulture Society, commemorating the centenary of the
Glass House. In this volume, there was a very short paper - The Early
Long History of Lalbagh - written by Dr. Suryanath U. Kamath. This
again serves as a good introduction for the history of Lalbagh but is
inadequate in its scope and coverage.
Another book titled, 'Whatever he touched he adorned', was published
by Suresh Jayaram in 2010 wherein a number of articles by different
authors paid tribute to the legacy of G.H. Krumbiegel who was
Superintendent of Lalbagh in the first half of the 20th century.
Expectedly, its scope is limited because the focus is essentially on
Krumbiegel.
Thus with no substantial material available to the public on the
history of Lalbagh, I began delving into the evolution of Labagh over the
years. An important source for my research was a series of letters written
by East India Company officials which detail the earliest British plans
for this garden. Other important sources include documents in the India
Office Records and British Library, the Royal Botanic Garden (Kew)
library and archives, Karnataka State archives and various
contemporary accounts of Mysore state. My intention was to produce a
text which meets an acceptable standard of scholarship for the botanist
community while at the same time holds the interest of the general
reader.
Creating awareness of Lalbagh's heritage will hopefully make
people aware of how blessed they are to have such a magnificent park in
their midst and how important it is to preserve it from despoliation in
the face of relentless urban spread.
I am grateful to Dr A.N. Yellappa Reddy, Chairman, Bangalore
Environment Trust and other Trustees for their support and
encouragement.
V.R. Thiruvady
viii
