Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Union Ministers M Venkaiah Naidu and Ananth Kumar at the renaming ceremony in Bengaluru. (PTI Photo)
The Bangalore City railway station has been renamed after Karnataka's 19th century revolutionary freedom fighter Krantivira Sangolli Rayanna.
Fulfilling a long-standing demand of people across the state, Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu said, "I would like to wish the people of Karnataka and the residents of Bengaluru on this wonderful occasion. I salute the memory of this great son of this great country."
Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu - also present at the renaming ceremony - said that the station has been renamed for the younger generation to draw inspiration from.
"We will also publish an article on Rayanna in our on-board magazine 'Railway Bandhu' and bring out a booklet for passengers on him, recounting his patriotism, nationalism and sacrifice for the country' freedom," Mr Prabhu said.
Born on August 15, 1798, Rayanna, then ruler of Kittur in Belagavi fought against the British East India Company.
33-year-old Rayanna participated in the 1824 rebellion and was captured and hanged to death from a banyan tree at Nandagad in Belagavi district on January 26, 1832.
The South Western Railway (SWR) has installed Rayanna's bust at the main station entrance, with a plaque having his picture and a brief biographical account.
On request of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and central minister Ananth Kumar, who represents the Bengaluru South seat in Lok Sabha, Mr Prabhu agreed to consider installing a tall statute of Rayanna in front of the station.