Sir,

Today’s newspapers had published a report that our Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had said that he would get all necessary facilities to Mysuru, which, he affirmed, is a cultural and heritage city.

I am reminded of former Chief Minister R. Gundu Rao, who came from Kodagu, saying that Kodagu people should ask whatever facilities and infrastructure they wanted during his tenure as Chief Minister. But sadly, except for Bengaluru and Mysuru Kodava Samajas, Kodagu people did not make any worthwhile demand on him.

Here in Mysuru it should not happen that way. We Mysureans should immediately get cracking on the Chief Minister’s assurance and give a list of facilities we need.

As for me and my artist friends, one MOST important facility we need is a world class Art Gallery where paintings, sculptures and their exhibitions and sale could be held. It should also provide for an intimate auditorium, a library, workshop area and, of course, a canteen. It must have sufficient parking space with a campus of green lawns, flower-beds and greenery.

If Siddaramaiah gives us this Art Gallery, he would have given us a piece of paradise indeed. We can even name it after him “Siddaramaiah Art Gallery.”

R. Gundu Rao gave us a Kalamandira for which my small role (alilu seve) was also there. It was, however, named ‘Karnataka Kalamandira,’ not as ‘Gundu Rao Kalamandira!’

Likewise, this Siddaramaiah-built Art Gallery too can be called ‘Mysuru Art Gallery.’

– K.B. Ganapathy, Sr. Journalist, Mysuru, 23.12.2023

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