Kalastavadi Puttaswamy (1917 - 1978) was an Indian lawyer, and a senior
Indian National Congress
The Indian National Congress (INC), colloquially the Congress Party but often simply the Congress, is a political party in India with widespread roots. Founded in 1885, it was the first modern nationalist movement to emerge in the British E ...
politician, who remained a member of
Karnataka Legislative Assembly
The Karnataka Legislative Assembly is the lower house of the bicameral legislature of the Indian state of Karnataka. Karnataka is one of the six states in India where the state legislature is bicameral, comprising two houses. The two houses are ...
(1952–1977), three times from
Mysore
Mysore (), officially Mysuru (), is a city in the southern part of the state of Karnataka, India. Mysore city is geographically located between 12° 18′ 26″ north latitude and 76° 38′ 59″ east longitude. It is located at an altitude of ...
and subsequently twice from Chamundeshwari constituency, who also served as Minister of various ministries of
Government of Karnataka
The Government of Karnataka, abbreviated as, GoK, or simply Karnataka Government, is a democratically-elected state body with the governor as the ceremonial head to govern the Southwest Indian state of Karnataka. The governor who is appointed ...
, including Labour, Public Administration and Health & Housing. He has also remained member of the
Constituent Assembly
A constituent assembly (also known as a constitutional convention, constitutional congress, or constitutional assembly) is a body assembled for the purpose of drafting or revising a constitution. Members of a constituent assembly may be elected b ...
in 1948.
Biography
He was born in 1917 to an agriculturist family as the first son of Late Sri. Kalastavadi Srilingegowda and Late Smt. Lingamma.
From his childhood he was very studious, always ahead in his studies, quiet and more thoughtful. He secured Hons. Degree in Psychology from the
University of Mysore
The University of Mysore is a public state university in Mysore, Karnataka, India. The university was founded during the reign of Krishnaraja Wadiyar IV, the Maharaja of Mysore. The university is recognised by the University Grants Commission ...
. Later he did his Law Degree in Belgaum Law College. Besides, being a good student, he involved himself in curricular activities. He was a freedom fighter. Later he became the President of Mysore City Corporation, President of District Cooperative Society and he was elected as a Member of
Karnataka Legislative Assembly
The Karnataka Legislative Assembly is the lower house of the bicameral legislature of the Indian state of Karnataka. Karnataka is one of the six states in India where the state legislature is bicameral, comprising two houses. The two houses are ...
, from Mysore city. He was also a member of Mysore University Senate and Syndicate.
His exemplary behaviour, promptness, his love of serving the people made him rise to the level of a Minister under the guidance of the then Chief Minister S. Nijalingappa. He served as a Cabinet Minister of Health, Co-operation, Law and Labour very efficiently.http://www.kla.kar.nic.in/assembly/elib/pdf/eresources/K%20Puttaswami.pdf
His son P. Vishwanath was the first Mayor of
Mysore
Mysore (), officially Mysuru (), is a city in the southern part of the state of Karnataka, India. Mysore city is geographically located between 12° 18′ 26″ north latitude and 76° 38′ 59″ east longitude. It is located at an altitude of ...
.
Vidyavardhaka Sangha
Vidyavardhaka Sangha in Mysore, a dream of Late K. Puttaswamy made its humble beginning in the year 1948-49 with an intention of propagating education to the poorer sections of the society, at a small
choultry
Choultry is a resting place, an inn or caravansary for travelers, pilgrims or visitors to a site, typically linked to Buddhist, Jain and Hindu temples. They are also referred to as .Vidya Vardhaka College of Engineering.About Vidyavardhaka Sangha /ref>
Now Vidyavardhaka Sangha stands as one of the prestigious educational institutions in the Heritage City of Mysore. This has been possible because of the dedication and pragmatic approach towards education by Late K. Puttaswamy. All these have materialized because of the services and contributions by great philanthropist whose main motto was "Service before Self" and "Education for all".