228. The Man Who Lived A Thousand Lives: Prisoner of War (Ep 2)

The podcast explores the life and legacy of Gustav Hermann Krumbiegel, a German horticulturalist who significantly shaped the landscape of Mysore and Bangalore in India. Krumbiegel's transformative work included importing exotic plants, particularly fruiting trees from Australia, and distributing them to local farmers with detailed cultivation instructions, thereby improving their economic conditions. He also contributed to the Mysore Horticultural Society and the concept of "serial blossoming," which earned Bangalore the title of Garden City. Despite his contributions, Krumbiegel faced internment during both World Wars due to his German origin, leading to financial hardship and erasure from some of his projects. Post-independence, he was appointed Director of Agriculture in Mysore and designed the gardens of Raj Ghat in Delhi, commemorating Mahatma Gandhi.