Sir, My great-grandmother, late Tukku Bai Bhojgade had constructed a Janopakari building in 1913, in Gavipuram, Bengaluru, in memory of her husband late Venkata Rao Bhojgade. Among other community-related activities, classes were conducted for the neighbourhood children, one of whom reportedly was actor Rajinikanth. As the school strength had steadily increased, my father, late Prof. N.A. Nikam suggested to my mother, the owner of the property through inheritance, that she donate the building to the State Government so that the school could be run without its activities running into conflict with other events (such as performing marriages) for which the building was being used. Accordingly, in 1970 the building was gifted to the State Education Department with no strings attached. Very typical of my late father, a visionary. The school was renovated recently and mostly due to my sister Dr. Shakuntala Manay’s efforts to have the school named after our ancestors met with success. So the Government Boys Primary School will now be known as ‘Smt. Tukku Bai Bhojgade and Smt. Manna Bai Nikam Government Primary School.’ The school will be inaugurated on Dec. 5. My father would have been greatly pleased at the recognition accorded to the two selfless ladies.
- Shailaja Nikam, Basavanagudi, Bengaluru, 4.12.2018
