85.153.228.230: /* Vikas Soudha */ there is no such thing as Vikas Soudha. "Vikas Soudha" → "Vikasa Soudha"

2021-08-28T15:12:03Z

Vikas Soudha: there is no such thing as Vikas Soudha. "Vikas Soudha" → "Vikasa Soudha"

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{{short description|Seat of legislature of Karnataka State}}
{{about|the building in Bangalore|the state legislature|Karnataka Legislative Assembly|and|Karnataka Legislative Council|the legislature building in Belagavi|Suvarna Vidhana Soudha}}
{{EngvarB|date=September 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}}
{{multiple issues|
{{original research|date=April 2015}}
{{POV|date=January 2021}}
}}

{{Infobox building
| name = Vidhana Soudha
| alternate_names = Karnataka State House
| image = Vidhana Soudha close.jpg
| image_size = 325
| image_alt =
| caption = Front facade of the Vidhana Soudha, seen from Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Road
| map_type = India Bengaluru
| map_alt =
| map_caption = Location of Vidhana Soudha in Bangalore
| altitude =
| building_type = [[Karnataka Legislative Assembly|Legislative building]]
| architectural_style = [[Neo-Dravidian]]
| structural_system =
| cost = {{INRConvert|14.8|m|lk=r}}
| client =
| owner = [[Government of Karnataka]]
| location = [[Bangalore]], Karnataka
| address =
| location_town =
| location_country = [[India]]
| coordinates = {{coord|12.9796|77.5906|region:IN-KA|display=inline,title}}
| start_date = 1952
| completion_date = 1956
| inauguration_date =
| height = {{cvt|150|ft|m|order=flip}}
| diameter =
| antenna_spire =
| roof =
| top_floor =
| other_dimensions =
| floor_count = 4 + 1 basement
| floor_area = {{cvt|505505|sqft|0|order=flip}}{{cn|date=February 2021}}
| size = {{cvt|60|acre|order=flip}}{{cn|date=February 2021}}
| seating_type =
| seating_capacity = 300 members
| elevator_count =
| main_contractor = [[Karnataka Public Works Department|KPWD]]
| architect = B. R. Manickam, [[K. C. Reddy|K. C. Reddy]] and [[Kengal Hanumanthaiya]]
| architecture_firm =
| civil_engineer =
| other_designers =
| awards =
| references =
}}

'''Vidhana Soudha''' ({{lit|Legislative House}}) in [[Bangalore]], [[India]], is the seat of the bicameral [[Karnataka Legislature|state legislature of Karnataka]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Vidhana Soudha, Bangalore|url=http://www.trip2blr.com/bangalore-tourist-places/historical-places/vidhana-soudha/}}</ref> It is constructed in a style described as ''[[Neo-Dravidian]]'',<ref>{{cite book|first=Jon T. |last=Lang|title=A concise history of modern architecture in India|year=2002|publisher=Orient Blackswan|isbn=978-81-7824-017-6|pages=40–41}}</ref> and incorporates elements of various [[Dravidian architecture|Dravidian]] styles.<ref name="deccsoudha">{{cite news|title=Soudha: A tale of sweat and toil|url=http://www.deccanchronicle.com/bengaluru/soudha-tale-sweat-and-toil-093|access-date=11 November 2010|newspaper=[[Deccan Chronicle]]|date=31 October 2010}}</ref> The construction was completed in 1956.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Vidhana Soudha|url=https://kla.kar.nic.in/vds.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>

==History==
The two houses of legislature of the [[Kingdom of Mysore|princely state of Mysore]], the legislative assembly and the legislative council, were established in 1881 and 1907 respectively. Sessions of the two houses took place in Mysore (with joint sessions taking place in the [[Bangalore Town Hall]]) until India's independence from British rule on 15 August 1947, when Mysore acceded to India. The state's capital was shifted to Bangalore; the two houses moved into [[Attara Kacheri]], a British-built building in [[Cubbon Park]] that housed the High Court of Mysore.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|date=2017-10-23|title=The people's palace|url=https://www.deccanherald.com/content/639023/peoples-palace.html|access-date=2021-05-01|website=Deccan Herald|language=en}}</ref>

A need was felt for more spacious quarters for the legislature than Attara Kacheri, and in April 1951, the cabinet of Mysore's first [[Chief minister (India)|chief minister]], [[K. Chengalaraya Reddy|K. C. Reddy]], finalised plans for such a building. The foundation stone of the building was laid by [[Jawaharlal Nehru]], the first [[Prime Minister of India]], on 13 July 1951.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1">{{Cite journal|last=Nair|first=Janaki|date=November 2002|title=Past Perfect: Architecture and Public Life in Bangalore|url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0021911800007683/type/journal_article|journal=The Journal of Asian Studies|language=en|volume=61|issue=4|pages=1205–1236|doi=10.2307/3096440|issn=0021-9118}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2002-10-23|title=The Hindu : Not just brick and mortar|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021023231845/http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/mp/2002/09/12/stories/2002091200780200.htm|access-date=2021-05-01|website=web.archive.org}}</ref> The structure was planned to be a two-storeyed building housing the assembly and the council.<ref name=":1" />

[[Kengal Hanumanthaiah]] succeeded Reddy as Chief Minister after [[1952 Mysore Legislative Assembly election|the 1952 election]] in the state.<ref>{{cite book|author1=Harish Ramaswamy |author2=S. S. Patagundi |author3=Shankaragouda Hanamantagouda Patil|title=Karnataka government and politics|year=2007|publisher=Concept Publishing Company|isbn=978-81-8069-397-7|pages=61}}</ref>  Calling the existing plan a "plain and simple type of American architecture", Hanumanthaiah ordered extensive revisions to produce "a work of art in keeping with the tradition of Mysore State". Apart from house chambers, the revised plan included government offices, archives, a library and a banquet hall. Construction of the building was completed in 1956. Hanumanthiah personally supervised and ordered several particular aspects of the construction; one of them was to inscribe ''Government Work Is God's Work'' and its Kannada equivalent on the [[entablature]] of the front facade.<ref name=":1" />

=== Cost ===
Estimates of construction costs for the original two-storied structure stood at 33 lakh (3.3 million) [[Indian rupee|rupees]].<ref name=":1" /> The final cost of construction of the redesigned building was 180 lakh (18 million) rupees. Hanumanthaiah was criticised for the inflated sum - equivalent to ₹170 crore, or {{INRConvert|1.7|b|lk=r}} in 2019 - spent on construction.<ref name=":1" /><ref name="Inscription">{{cite news|year=1957|title='Government's Work Is God's Work'—Inscription To Go|volume=5|page=44|work=Civic Affairs|publisher=Citizen Press|editor-last=Kapoor|editor-first=P. C.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-_wmAQAAIAAJ|quote=The Mysore Government has decided to erase the inscription "Government work is God's work" on the facade of Vidhana Soudha, the [[Indian rupee|Rs.]] 1.5 [[crore]] colossal Legislature and Secretariat buildings... which has been a subject of considerable controversy. It is proposed to replace this inscription with another, ''Satyameva Jayate'', which is inscribed under the [[Asoka Chakra]] in the national emblem. This change is expected to cost Rs. 7,500. The huge expenditure incurred for the construction of Vidhana Soudha had been the subject of considerable criticism both inside the Legislature and outside.|via=Google Books}}</ref>

===Design===
Built with granite, Vidhana Soudha is the largest legislative building in India. It measures {{convert|213.36|by|106.68|m|abbr=}} on the ground and is {{Convert|53.34|m|ft}} tall.<ref name=":1" /> The architecture includes elements of styles from the mediaeval Kannada kingdoms of the [[Chalukya dynasty|Chalukyas]], [[Hoysala Empire|Hoysalas]] and [[Vijayanagara Empire|Vijayanagara]].<ref name=":1" /> Its east-facing front [[Façade|facade]] has a porch with 12 granite columns, {{convert|40|ft|order=flip}} tall. Leading to the porch is a flight of stairs with 45 steps, more than {{convert|200|ft|order=flip}} wide. The central dome, {{convert|60|ft|order=flip}} in diameter, is crowned by a likeness of the [[State Emblem of India]].

The entablature is inscribed with the phrase ''Government Work is God's Work'', and the Kannada equivalent, ''Sarkarada kelasa devara kelasa''.<ref name="deccsoudha"/> In 1957, the Mysore government planned to replace the inscription with ''[[Satyameva Jayate]]'' at a cost of {{INRConvert|7.5|k|year=1957}},<ref name="Inscription" /> but the change did not take place. In 1996, the inscription inspired a visiting US state governor, [[George Voinovich]] of [[Ohio]], to propose etching "[[With God, all things are possible]]" onto the [[Ohio Statehouse]], prompting a high-profile lawsuit.<ref name="ACLU">{{cite court|litigants=American Civil Liberties Union v. Capitol Square Review|vol=20|reporter=F. Supp. 2d|opinion=1176|court=S.D. Ohio|date=1998|url=http://law.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/FSupp2/20/1176/2423413/|access-date=21 January 2015}}</ref>{{Additional citation needed|date=August 2021}}

The cost of construction at that time was just {{INRConvert|17.5|m|year=1956}}. But presently, annual maintenance cost itself is more than {{INRConvert|20|m}} including repairs, painting, and other miscellaneous expenses.{{Citation needed|date=August 2021}}

==Security==
Vidhana Soudha is surrounded by a {{convert|10|ft|m|0|order=flip|adj=mid|-high}} fencing near the footpath. Consequently, watch towers, upgraded scanning equipment, automated doors and screening systems were installed.{{Citation needed|date=August 2021}}

==Replica==
===Vikasa Soudha===
{{main|Vikasa Soudha}}
The Karnataka government has constructed a replica named ''Vikasa Soudha'' to the south of the building. Initiated by the then Chief Minister [[S. M. Krishna|S. M. Krishna]] and inaugurated in February 2005, it is intended to be an annexe building, housing some of the ministries and legislative offices.{{Citation needed|date=August 2021}}

===Suvarna Vidhana Soudha===
{{main|Suvarna Vidhana Soudha}}
The '''Suvarna Vidhana Soudha''' ({{lit|Golden Legislative House}}) is the legislature building of the [[Karnataka|State of Karnataka]] in [[Belgaum]] in the [[Belgaum district]] of [[Northern Karnataka]]. It was inaugurated on 11 October 2012 by [[President of India|President]] [[Pranab Mukherjee]].<ref name="thehindu">{{cite news|title=A new chapter begins today|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/karnataka/a-new-chapter-begins-today/article3985269.ece?homepage=true|newspaper=The Hindu|date=11 October 2012}}</ref>
===Mini Vidhana Soudha===
{{empty section|date=August 2021}}

==Location==
It is located on Ambedkar Veedhi or Dr Ambedkar Rd, Seshadripuram.<ref>{{cite news|title=Metro Green Line launch: No parking in CBD |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/metro-green-line-launch-no-parking-in-cbd/article19088330.ece|access-date=27 June 2017|newspaper=The Hindu|date=16 June 2017}}</ref> Opposite to Vidhana Soudha is the [[High Court of Karnataka]]. Both buildings are in the [[Cubbon Park|Cubbon park]], which is located near the Karnataka State Lawn Tennis Association (KSLTA).

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090618055631/http://www.kar.nic.in/kla/vds.htm Vidhana Soudha]
* [http://www.vidhanasoudha.com vidhanasoudha.com]

{{Bangalore topics}}

[[Category:Government buildings completed in 1956]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Bangalore]]
[[Category:Legislative buildings in India]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Bangalore]]
[[Category:Karnataka Legislature]]

Vidhana Soudha - Revision history

85.153.228.230: /* Vikas Soudha */ there is no such thing as Vikas Soudha. "Vikas Soudha" → "Vikasa Soudha"