Our house was just behind hundred-foot road and I must have passed on this road leading to Ramaswamy circle a zillion times. Ramaswamy circle was like the head of the hundred-foot road. Jhansi Lakshmi Bai road was the other to intersect at this circle.
As time went by, I got promoted from sitting behind my dad’s scooter to riding a bicycle and then to a Luna (moped) and I have circumambulated (pradakshine) Ramaswamy circle countless times to reach home.
Ramaswamy circle had few iconic places like the Krishna bakery and the now defunct petrol bunk and my guitar class teacher’s house. The circle also has many doctor’s clinic. The Navakarnataka book depot was also our favorite place to buy books.
This iconic circle was named after the freedom fighter student Ramaswamy. As a student Ramaswamy was passionate to take part in the freedom struggle. In 1946 at around 11 a.m., a huge group of students assembled at Hardwicke School down Ramaswamy circle towards RTO circle shouting “Vande Mataram”; “Bharat Mata ki Jai” and “We Want Freedom” and so on.
The Deputy Commissioner of Mysuru at that time was Nagarajaiah. As the police informed him about the agitation, he approached the students and asked them to bring down the Indian flag that the students were holding high.
Ramaswamy continued to chant “Vande Mataram” and held the flag proudly. Nagarajaiah was angered by this act and shot a bullet at Ramaswamy, which hit his chest. Ramaswamy was martyred for his patriotism.
100 meters away from the place where Ramaswamy died was a circle known as Five lights, which was renamed as Ramaswamy circle.
Jai Hind!
Place Statistics:
Type of place: Ancient temple
Situated: Mysuru Palace, Mysuru
Distance: Mysuru is 140Km from Bangalore
Transport: Well connected by road, rail and air
Facilities: Rest Room, drinking water is available
