Locals, alumni fight to stop demolition of 110-year-old Kannada school in Bengaluru

BENGALURU: Kannada medium schools have been losing importance and are facing an existential crisis in Karnataka. A Kannada school in the city, with a history of 110 years, is now under threat of demolition. Alumni of this school are now coming forward to save it from demolition.

The Kannada High School at Binnypet in Gandhinagar Assembly constituency has a history of 110 years. This school is not just a temple of knowledge; it has shaped the lives of hundreds of students and is connected emotionally with thousands of memories. However, this school is facing the threat of demolition. Some of the the alumni and locals are now fighting to save the Kannada school.

Subrahmanyam, an old student, said, ‘The Binny School is completing 110 years and has more than a century of history. Thousands of poor students have got their education and knowledge from here. ETA Company promised that they would renovate the school. Now, where should poor students go? The company was entrusted with maintaining the school, but now it is demolishing it for the land and making money. The land was purchased by Bangalore Woollen Cotton and Silk Mills Company Limited. There were many records for this school. I am requesting the public to save the historic school”.

Another alumnus of the school claimed that the Mysore Maharaja built the Kannada school in Binnypet. Later, it was handed over to Binny Mills Limited and more than half an acre of land was earmarked for the school. Later, this land was sold to the ETA company 20 years ago on the condition that the school would remain a school. But now the ETA company is going to demolish the school to develop a residential layout.

The old students have now expressed their displeasure that the company has taken away the children’s education. There are no basic infrastructure facilities at this school and had not been renovated. So the students were shifted to another place as part of the repair. At first, this school had only the primary section and later on, the high school.

Now the old students are coming forward to take over this school, which has given life to many, and they are thinking of writing to Primary Education minister Madhu Bangarappa and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.