https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=Kalmane_KamegowdaKalmane Kamegowda - Revision history2026-10-25T09:16:37ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.43.6https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kalmane_Kamegowda&diff=507752&oldid=prevGarrydum: started initial stub added tags2026-02-08T04:05:52Z<p>started initial stub added tags</p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{Short description|Shepherd and environmentalist (c. 1940-2022)}}<br />
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2026}}<br />
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2026}}<br />
{{Infobox person<br />
| name = Kalmane Kamegowda<br />
| image = <br />
| alt = <br />
| caption = <br />
| birth_name = <br />
| birth_date = {{circa|1940}}<br />
| birth_place = Dasanadoddi, [[Mandya district]], [[Karnataka]], [[India]]<br />
| death_date = {{death date and age|2022|10|17|1940||}}<br />
| death_place = [[Mandya]], Karnataka<br />
| other_names = {{hlist|Kere Kamegowda|"Pond man"}}<br />
| occupation = {{hlist|[[Shepherd]]|[[environmentalist]]}}<br />
| years_active = 1970s—2021<br />
| known_for = Water conservation in India<br />
| notable_works = Construction of ponds in Kundinibetta<br />
| awards = [[Rajyotsava Prashasti]] {{small|(2018)}}<br />
}}<br />
'''Kalmane Kamegowda''' ({{circa|1940}} {{endash}} 17 October 2022), also known as '''Kere Kamegowda''' or more commonly "'''Pond man'''",<ref name="HTDeath"/> was an Indian [[shepherd]] and [[environmentalist]] from [[Mandya district]], in the state of [[Karnataka]], [[India]]. Over four decades, he constructed ponds in the Kundinibetta region that addressed [[water scarcity]] and supported local vegetation and wildlife.<ref name="HTTribute">{{Cite news |title=Kalmane Kamegowda dies, K'taka leaders pay tribute |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/kalmane-kamegowda-dies-k-taka-leaders-pay-tribute-101666032626205.html |work=Hindustan Times |date=18 October 2022 |access-date=9 April 2024 |lang=en }}</ref><ref name="HTDeath">{{Cite news |author=Thadhagath, Pathi Venkata |title=Karnataka's beloved 'water sage' Kalmane Kamegowda dies at 82, CM pays tribute |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/bengaluru-news/karnatakas-beloved-water-sage-kalmane-kamegowda-dies-at-82-cm-pays-tribute-101665987669101.html |work=Hindustan Times |date=18 October 2022 |access-date=9 April 2024 |location=Bengaluru |lang=en }}</ref><br />
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== Biography ==<br />
Kamegowda was born in {{circa|1940}} in Dasanadoddi village, Malavalli taluk, Mandya district, Karnataka.<ref name="Scroll">{{Cite news |title=In Karnataka, a shepherd has spent all his money to dig ponds for birds and wild animals |url=https://scroll.in/article/974749/in-karnataka-a-shepherd-has-spent-all-his-money-to-dig-ponds-for-birds-and-wild-animals |work=Scroll.in |date=24 November 2020 |access-date=10 January 2026 |lang=en }}</ref> He came from a shepherd family and was not formally schooled.<ref name="HT2020">{{Cite news |title=Karnataka man combats water scarcity by building ponds |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/it-s-viral/karnataka-man-combats-water-scarcity-by-building-ponds/story-QI2DomAlO1ekaXKiRFVkrN.html |work=Hindustan Times |date=20 December 2020 |access-date=10 January 2026 |lang=en }}</ref> While grazing [[livestock]] on Kundinibetta hillock, he observed water shortages affecting animals and birds during summer.<ref name="NDTV">{{Cite news |title=Karnataka's "Water Warrior" Who Ended Crisis Gets Lifetime-Free Bus Pass |url=https://www.ndtv.com/karnataka-news/kame-gowda-karnatakas-lake-man-who-ended-water-crisis-gets-lifetime-free-bus-pass-2256434 |work=NDTV |date=3 July 2020 |access-date=10 January 2026 |lang=en }}</ref><br />
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Kamegowda began constructing ponds for wildlife in the late 1970s using basic tools,<ref name="HTTribute"/><ref name="GulfNews">{{Cite news |title=Indian shepherd combats water scarcity by building ponds |url=https://gulfnews.com/amp/story/world/asia/india/indian-shepherd-combats-water-scarcity-by-building-ponds-1.75989357 |work=Gulf News |agency=Associated Press |date=18 December 2020 |access-date=10 January 2026 |lang=en }}</ref> and later rented mechanical excavators at a cost [[Indian rupee|Rs]] 6,000{{endash}}8,000 per day.<ref name="NDTV"/> The work was financed from his own earnings, and those of his son, through livestock sales, spending over 10 Lakh. The ponds were constructed on slopes and were interconnected so that they would fill sequentially during [[monsoon season]]s,<ref name="HT2020"/><ref name="HTTribute"/><ref name="GulfNews"/><ref name="Scroll"/> hence contributing to groundwater recharge in the Malavalli region. Despite initial dismissive community response,<ref name="HTTribute"/> the ponds provided water for local fauna including bears, leopards, deer, foxes, and birds.<ref name="GulfNews"/><ref name="TM2020">{{Cite news |title=85-yr-old Karnataka conservationist featured in PM's 'Mann ki Baat' gets COVID-19 |url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/karnataka/85-yr-old-karnataka-conservationist-featured-pm-s-maan-ki-baat-gets-covid-19-129250 |work=The News Minute |date=23 July 2020 |access-date=9 April 2024 |lang=en }}</ref> <br />
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By 2018, Kamegowda had completed fourteen ponds,<ref name="NIE2018">{{Cite news |title='Lake Man' to build 15th pond with award money |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/karnataka/2018/Dec/19/lake-man-to-build-15th-pond-with-award-money-1913579.html |work=The New Indian Express |date=19 December 2018 |access-date=10 January 2026 |lang=en }}</ref> and following receipt of the [[Rajyotsava Prashasti|Rajyotsava award]], he used the funds to construct an additional pond.<ref name="NIE2018"/> By 2020, sixteen ponds were completed,<ref name="HT2020"/> some named after his grandchildren.<ref name="NDTV"/><br />
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In his latter years, Kamegowda experienced health issues including leg uclers and diabetes; and tested positive for [[COVID-19]] in July 2020, and recovered.<ref name="TM2020"/><ref name="DHCovid">{{Cite news |title='Lake Man' Kamegowda tests positive for coronavirus |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/india/karnataka/lake-man-kamegowda-tests-positive-for-coronavirus-864379.html |work=Deccan Herald |date=22 July 2020 |access-date=10 January 2026 |lang=en }}</ref> He died on 17 October 2022 in [[Mandya]], Karnataka.<ref name="HTDeath"/><ref name="ET">{{Cite news |title='Pond Man' Kamegowda, who earned praise of PM for water conservation, dies |url=https://m.economictimes.com/news/new-updates/pond-man-kamegowda-who-earned-praise-of-pm-for-water-conservation-dies/articleshow/94918149.cms |work=The Economic Times |date=19 October 2022 |access-date=10 January 2026 |lang=en }}</ref><ref name="TheHinduDeath">{{Cite news |title=Mandya's 'water warrior' Kame Gowda passes away |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/mandyas-water-warrior-kame-gowda-passes-away/article66020722.ece |work=The Hindu |date=17 October 2022 |access-date=10 January 2026 |lang=en }}</ref><br />
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== Honours and awards ==<br />
He was awarded the Rajyotsava award in 2018 by the Karnataka state government.<ref name="TNM2018">{{Cite news |title=Margaret Alva, Justice Dattu, shepherd Kamegowda among recipients of Rajyotsava awards |url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/karnataka/margaret-alva-justice-dattu-shepherd-kamegowda-among-recipients-rajyotsava-awards-92427 |work=The News Minute |date=30 October 2018 |access-date=10 January 2026 |lang=en }}</ref><ref name="NIEList">{{Cite news |title=Margaret Alva, Jai Jagadish among Kannada Rajyotsava awardees |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/bengaluru/2018/Nov/29/margaret-alva-jai-jagadish-among-kannada-rajyotsava-awardees-1904770.html |work=The New Indian Express |date=29 November 2018 |access-date=10 January 2026 |lang=en }}</ref> In July 2020, the state government announced that Kamegowda would receive a lifetime free pass for use on [[Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation|state transport buses]].<ref name="NDTV"/> In March 2021, following reports of health issues, the government provided financial assistance for medical treatment and initiated the naming of a park in his honour.<ref name="DHRecovering">{{Cite news |title='Pond Man' Kamegowda recovering: DC |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/india/karnataka/pond-man-kamegowda-recovering-dc-865679.html |work=Deccan Herald |date=8 March 2021 |access-date=10 January 2026 |location=Bengaluru |lang=en }}</ref> In the same year, the government allocated funds for watershed development in the area.<ref name="GulfNews"/><br />
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In June 2020, Prime Minister of India, Narendra Kumar mentioned Kamegowda during his monthly ''[[Mann Ki Baat]]'' radio address,<ref name="NDTV"/><ref name="TM2020"/><ref name="TheHinduMannKiBaat">{{Cite news |title=Mandya farmer receives praise from Prime Minister in Mann Ki Baat |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/mandya-farmer-receives-praise-from-prime-minister-in-mann-ki-baat/article31940437.ece |work=The Hindu |date=29 June 2020 |access-date=10 January 2026 |lang=en }}</ref> and his work was noted in discussions of water conservation approaches in Karnataka.<ref name="VarthaBharati">{{Cite news |title=PM lauds Karnataka environmentalist's efforts at building water tank |url=https://english.varthabharati.in/karnataka/pm-lauds-karnataka-environmentalists-efforts-at-building-water-tank |work=Vartha Bharati |date=28 June 2020 |access-date=10 January 2026 |location=New Delhi |lang=en }}</ref> <br />
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== References ==<br />
{{reflist}}<br />
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{{Authority control}}<br />
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Kamegowda, Kalmane}}<br />
[[Category:1940s births]]<br />
[[Category:2022 deaths]]<br />
[[Category:Indian environmentalists]]<br />
[[Category:People from Mandya district]]<br />
[[Category:Shepherds]]<br />
[[Category:Water conservation in India]]<br />
[[Category:Year of birth missing]]</div>Garrydum