Iringlz at 22:22, 21 November 2025

2025-11-21T22:22:19Z

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{{Short description|Maharani of Mysore and regent from 1895 to 1902}}
{{moresources|date=August 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2017}}
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2017}}
{{Infobox royalty
| name = Kempananjammani Devi '''[[Order of the Crown of India|C.I.]]'''
| title = Maharani of Mysore
| image = Maharani Vani Vilasa with grandson Jayachamarajendra Wadiyar.jpg
| caption = Maharani Vani Vilasa with her grandson [[Jayachamarajendra Wadiyar]]
| predecessor =
| successor =
| spouse = [[Chamarajendra Wadiyar X]]
| issue = [[Krishnaraja Wadiyar IV]] [[Kanteerava Narasimharaja Wadiyar]] Jayalakshmammanni Krishnajammanni Cheluvajammanni
| royal house = [[Wadiyar dynasty]]
| father = Narasarajae Urs
| mother = Gunamba Kempananjammanni|
| birth_date = 4 July 1866
| birth_place = [[Kalale]], [[Kingdom of Mysore]]
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1934|7|7|1866|7|4|df=y}}
| death_place = [[Bangalore]], Kingdom of Mysore
| buried =
| religion = [[Hinduism]]
}}
'''Kempananjammanni Devi''' (4 July 1866 – 7 July 1934) was the [[Maharaja of Mysore|Maharani of Mysore]] and later queen mother and regent of the [[Kingdom of Mysore]].

She was the wife of Maharaja [[Chamarajendra Wadiyar X]] and the mother of Maharaja [[Krishna Raja Wadiyar IV|Krishnaraja Wadiyar IV]]. She was queen regent between 1895 and 1902, during the minority of Krishnaraja Wadiyar IV. She occupies as significant place in the annals of Mysore's history. Her contributions to the citizenry and her roles as maharani, regent, and queen mother to the young prince Yuvaraja Krishnaraja Wadiyar IV, have been commended.

==Life==
Kempananjammanni was born in the village of [[Kalale]] near [[Mysore]] in 1866. She was married to the Maharaja [[Chamarajendra Wadiyar X]] on 26 May 1878 and assumed the suffix Vani Vilasa Sannidhana as was the practice in Mysore Royal family . In 1881, the Rendition of Mysore Act 1881 was passed carried, restoring the government of the kingdom from [[British Raj|British India]] back to the natural prince, who was now 18. The kingdom had been restored nearly after 50 years to the [[Wadiyar dynasty|Wadiyars]] since the [[Tipu Sultan#Death|fall of Tipu]] in 1799 and the Commissioner's Rule in 1831 by [[British Raj|British India]]. In 1884, Krishnaraja Wadiyar IV was born to the royal couple. In quick succession, they also had another son, [[Kanteerava Narasimharaja Wadiyar]], and three daughters. two more sons raja wadiyar and Devaraja Wadiyar died in their infancy.

===Vani Vilas Regency===
Maharaja Chamarajendra Wadiyar, while on a visit to [[Calcutta]] in 1894, developed [[diphtheria]] and succumbed to sudden death there, thus abruptly cutting short a promising reign that lasted only 13 years. He was just 32 and had already left his mark as an excellent leader. His death suddenly created a government crisis in the kingdom as Prince Krishnarajendra Wadiyar IV was still in minority. The unexpected tragedy was regarded as a great national misfortune throughout [[India]] and was deplored by the [[British Government]] as an imperial loss. The royal family plunged into great sorrow and the citizens were said to have felt orphaned.

The burden of governing the kingdom fell on Maharani Kempananjammanni. History posed a new challenge to her: a severe bubonic plague struck the capital Mysore city, reducing the population in half. Under such circumstances, she was nominated as queen-regent, a post she held for about eight tough years, from 1895 to 1902, and served the people with great aplomb, dignity, devotion, discipline, and distinction. She earned the respect of one and all for the fabulous way she held forth.

She was advised by [[K. Seshadri Iyer|Sir K. Seshadri Iyer]] at that time. Sir [[T. R. A. Thumboo Chetty]], a former Chief Justice of Mysore and a senior member of the Regency Privy Council, was also an acting dewan for Iyer. She was also assisted by her brother Sir [[M. Kantaraj Urs]], later dewan, as her private secretary. She helped Mysore recover from slump. Progress in all fields resulted from their efficient administration and blessed the entire citizenry. Generation of electricity from the river [[Kaveri]], promoting the [[Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore|Indian Institute of Science]], construction of the [[Vani Vilasa Sagara|Vani Vilas Sagara]] dam (also known as the Māri-Kanave Valley aqueduct), construction of the [[Mysore Palace|new palace]], extension of new localities in [[Mysore]], water supply through pipes (Vani Vilas Waterworks), and laying of foundation stone of [[Victoria Hospital (Bangalore Medical College)|Victoria Hospital]] in [[Bangalore]] were enough testimony. The [[The Crown|British Crown]] decorated her with a [[Order of the Crown of India|CI]] for her distinguished leadership.

{{Quote box
|quote = …there are three jewels in Mysore's history, who have struggled for the country's good. Maharani Lakshamanni, Maharani Sitavilasa Sannidhana, and Maharani Vani Vilasa Sannidhana [Kempa Nanjammani]. She was not only a mother to Krishnara Wadiyar, but also to all the citizens. For the contributions they have made, their names deserve to be written in golden letters…
|author = Prof. Rao Bahadur R Narasimhachar
|source =
|width = 50%
|align = right
|quoted = 1
}}

Maharani Kempananjamanni was a great believer in women's education; under her patronage, Maharani's College got all due attention. She was a staunch follower of [[Hinduism]], but respected all faiths equally.

===Retirement and last days===
She retired when Krishnaraja Wadiyar IV came of age when, on 8 August 1902; the yuvaraja ascended the throne that marked the end of memorable regency and the beginning of what was to become Mysore's ''golden era'', an era that came to be known by the encomium ''Ramarajya''.

After a brief illness, she died on the midnight of 7 July 1934, in [[Bangalore]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Queen Mother of Mysore Dead|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=sao-AAAAIBAJ&sjid=EkwMAAAAIBAJ&pg=2100%2C1932427|access-date=8 May 2017|work=The Indian Express|date=9 July 1934}}</ref>

==Legacy==
There are many edifices in the city of Mysore with the prefix 'Vani Vilasa': Waterworks (Vani Vilasa Sagara dam), Maternity Hospital, Girls High School and College, Bridge, Ladies Club, and Road, which, to this day, commemorate her memory.

==References==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/ABriefSketchOfTheLifeOfRajaDharmaPravinaT.R.A.ThumbooChetty|title=A Brief Sketch of the Life of T. R. A. Thumboo Chetty, C.I.E, Formerly Chief Judge and Officiating Dewan of Mysore.|last=Royaloo Chetty|first=T.|publisher=Hoe & Co.Madras|year=1909}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sannidhana, Maharani Kempa Nanjammani Vani Vilasa}}
[[Category:Indian queens consort]]
[[Category:Women from the Kingdom of Mysore]]
[[Category:Wadiyar dynasty]]
[[Category:Regents in India]]
[[Category:Companions of the Order of the Crown of India]]
[[Category:19th-century women regents]]
[[Category:1866 births]]
[[Category:1934 deaths]]
[[Category:People from the Kingdom of Mysore]]
[[Category:People from Mysore district]]
[[Category:19th-century Indian women]]
[[Category:19th-century Indian royalty]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian women]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian people]]
[[Category:Women from Karnataka]]
[[Category:Queen mothers]]
[[Category:19th-century regents]]
[[Category:20th-century regents]]
[[Category:20th-century women regents]]

Kempananjammanni Devi - Revision history

Iringlz at 22:22, 21 November 2025