page_title: K. Seshadri Iyer
section_title: The Maker of Modern Bangalore
hierarchical_section_title: K. Seshadri Iyer / As Dewan / The Maker of Modern Bangalore
caption_attribution_description: English: Sheshadri Iyer Statue
context_page_description: Sir Kumarapuram Seshadri Iyer, KCSI, or Sheshadri Aiyar was an advocate who served as the Dewan of Mysore from 1883 to 1901. He was the second Dewan of Mysore state since the reinstatement of the Wodeyar family on its throne in 1881 and was the longest serving Dewan of the princely state as well. He is regarded by most as the Maker of Modern Bangalore.
  Seshadri Iyer was born in a family from Palghat in the Malabar district of Madras Presidency which is in modern day Kerala. He had his early education in Calicut and graduated in arts from Presidency College, Chennai, in 1868. He was also a qualified lawyer.
  Seshadri Iyer joined the services of the Mysore kingdom in 1868 and served as a district magistrate and later as Personal Secretary to the Diwan, Rungacharlu before being appointed Diwan himself. Seshadri Iyer was the longest serving Diwan of Mysore kingdom and served from 1883 to 1901.
  Started the Mysore Civil Service Examinations were held for the first time in 1891 and the Department of Geology and the Department of Agriculture were founded in 1894 and 1898.
context_section_description: In 1898, a plague devastated Bangalore city and wiped out a large proportion of its population. The remaining population moved into camps set up on open farmland in the countryside until the plague abated. The highly congested old city area, consisting of tiny houses built along very narrow and irregular lanes, was where most Indians lived, and this area was badly hit by the plague. The Mysore government, in consultation with the British Raj, decided to depopulate and demolish this area to prevent recurrence of plague and other infectious diseases which were common in those days. Iyer's administration developed the extensions of Basavanagudi and Malleswaram from 1898 onwards in order to house the displaced population. Housing plots were allotted and other help extended to the displaced families to enable them to build airy new houses. Not only did the extensions alleviate the congestion of the city, but also, many new industrial units came to be established in the vicinity, and people got more employment opportunities. Hotels and eateries made their first appearance. Meanwhile, the old city was demolished and developed anew. Streets were decongested, roads were widened and straightened; sanitation was improved. In 1894, Seshadri Iyer started the Chamarajendra Water Works to supply water to the city from Hesaraghatta Lake, which at that time eas 18 km outside the city. 
  During the plague, Iyer also observed the need for a large and well-equipped hospital which would provide treatment in the European style of medicine. The Victoria Hospital was begun by him in 1900. Previously, he had commissioned the glass house in Lal Bagh in 1889.  
  The private residence of Seshadri Iyer, Kumara Krupa, is now the State Guest House. The city remembers him through the names of Seshadripuram (a city extension created in 1892), Sheshadri Road, Sheshadri Memorial Library, and a statue in Cubbon Park.
caption: Statue of Sir K.Seshadri Iyer at Cubbon Park, Bangalore
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