View source for Gubbi Thotadappa

{{Short description|Indian businessman and philanthropist}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2014}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific_prefix = Rao Bahadhur Dharmapravartha
| name             = Gubbi Thotadappa
| image            = Gubbi Thotadappa (1838-1910).jpg
| image_size       =
| birth_date       = {{birth date|1838|12|18|df=y}}
| birth_place      = [[Gubbi]], [[Tumkur]], [[Kingdom of Mysore]] (now in [[Karnataka]])
| death_date       = 1910
| death_place      = [[Bangalore]]
| profession       = [[Business man]]
| occupation       = Donor, RBDGTC Trust Founder
| spouse           = Gowramma 
}}
[[File:RBDGTC Gubbi Thotadappa.jpg|thumb|Rao Bahadur Dharmapravartha Gubbi Thotadappa Charities (RBDGTC)]]
[[Rao Bahadur]] "Dharmapravartha" '''Gubbi Thotadappa''' (Kannada: ರಾವ್ ಬಹದ್ದೂರ್ ಧರ್ಮಪ್ರವರ್ತ [[:kn:ಗುಬ್ಬಿ ತೋಟದಪ್ಪ|ಗುಬ್ಬಿ ತೋಟದಪ್ಪ]]), (1838-1910 Gubbi), was an Indian businessman and [[philanthropist]].<ref name="The Hindu">{{cite web|url=http://www.thehindu.com/2003/02/02/stories/2003020209050300.htm|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140830123103/http://www.thehindu.com/2003/02/02/stories/2003020209050300.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=30 August 2014|author=Divya Sreedharan|work=[[The Hindu]]|title=For now, this old shelter|date=2003-02-02|accessdate=28 August 2014}}</ref> He founded a free lodging place for tourists from across the nation called "Thotadappa Chathra".<ref name="The Hindu"/> He was honoured with the title "Dharmapravartha" by the [[Maharaja]] of [[Mysore]], [[Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV]] and "[[Rao Bahadur]]" by the British government.<ref name="The Hindu"/>

==Early years==
Thotadappa was born in 1838 in a [[Lingayat]] family of [[Gubbi]]. His family moved to Bangalore in the later years where he started his business in [[Mamulpet]].<ref name="bangaloremirror">{{cite web|url=https://bangaloremirror.indiatimes.com/bangalore/others/over-100-years-of-hospitality-gubbi-thotadappa-the-legendary-philanthropist-continues-to-host-tourists-students/articleshow/60832121.cms|author=Suresh Moona|title=Over 100 years of hospitality: Gubbi Thotadappa|publisher=bangaloremirror.indiatimes.com|accessdate=26 September 2017}}</ref>

==Social work==
[[File:Gubbi thotadappa statue.JPG|thumb|Gubbi Thotadappa statue in front of RBDGTC trust]]
Having no children of his own, Thotadappa decided to use all his property to the benefit of tourists and students. He founded a trust called Rao Bahadur Dharmapravartha Gubbi Thotadappa Charities (RBDGTC). In 1897, the trust bought a piece of land near [[Bangalore City Railway Station]] and, on 11 Feb 1903, Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV officially opened the Dharmachathra (for visiting tourists) and Free Hostel (for students).<ref name="newindianexpress.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/bangalore/article230817.ece|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140905020235/http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/bangalore/article230817.ece|url-status=dead|archive-date=5 September 2014|work=the Indian express, dated 6 December 2011|author=Y Maheswara Reddy|title=A model for sustainable charity|publisher=2011, the newindianexpress|accessdate=28 August 2014}}</ref> During his last days he donated all his property to RBDGTC trust and appointed [[K. P. Puttanna Chetty]] as first president of that trust. The trust continues its work today. This hostel facility was extended to all over [[Karnataka]]. In the year 2005, the hostel was reconstructed. For its centenary the trust built Bell Hotel at [[Kempegowda Bus Station]] as a source of income. The lodging facility offers accommodation at a nominal rate and is open to all, irrespective of their religion.<ref name="newindianexpress.com"/> Use of the hostel, however, is exclusive to students belonging to the [[lingayat]] community. To date the hostel has not received [[Indian Government|Government]] [[government grant|grants]]. The trust awards [[scholarships]] for merit to [[Lingayat]] students every year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-karnataka/applications-invited/article3928701.ece|work=Online Edition of the Hindu, dated 23 September 2012|author=Staff Reporter|title=Applications invited|publisher=2012, The Hindu |accessdate=28 August 2014}}</ref>
[[File:Rao Bahaddhur Dharma Pravartha Gubbi thothadappa Idol.jpg|thumb|Rao Bahaddhur Dharma Pravartha Gubbi thothadappa Idol]]

==Honours==
* In 1905, he was given the title "Dharmapravartha" by the Maharaja of Mysore, Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV, for his social services.
* In 1910, [[George V]], [[Emperor of India]], granted him the nobility of "Rao Bahadur".

==Death==
On 21 February 1910, Thotadappa died at the age of 72.

==Influence==
*Dr. Sree Sree Sree [[Shivakumara Swamiji]] was a student of Thotadappa hostel during the years 1927-1930.
*[[S. Nijalingappa]], Karnataka's Fourth [[Chief Minister]], was a student of Thotadappa hostel during the years 1921-1924.
*The Road in front of [[Bangalore City Railway Station]] was named "Gubbi Thotadappa road" in his honour.

== See also ==
* [[K. P. Puttanna Chetty]]
* [[Yele Mallappa Shetty]]
* [[Sajjan Rao]]
* [[S. Ramaswami Mudaliar]]
* [[Janopakari Doddanna Setty]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Gubbi Thotadappa}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Thotadappa, Gubbi}}
[[Category:1838 births]]
[[Category:1910 deaths]]
[[Category:Businesspeople from Karnataka]]
[[Category:Rai Bahadurs]]
[[Category:People from Tumakuru district]]
[[Category:19th-century Indian businesspeople]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian businesspeople]]
[[Category:19th-century Indian philanthropists]]
[[Category:Indian philanthropists]]