Adopted by a Swedish family in 1992 when she was seven, 39-year-old Jolly Sandberg seeks public help 

Mysore/Mysuru: At 39 years old, Jolly Sandberg, born in Mysuru but adopted by a Swedish couple, the quest to find her biological parents has thus far been fruitless. On Thursday, she appeared before the media, holding onto hope that someone may come forward with information regarding her parents and relatives. 

Accompanied by her husband Erric, who works at a Golf Club as a Greenskeeper in Sweden, daughter Olivia Anjali and representatives from the Adoptees Rights Council, Jolly Sandberg, also known by her Indian name Janu, is actively seeking any leads that could connect her with relatives — cousins, aunts, uncles or other family members. 

At the press conference held at Pathrakarthara Bhavan, she shared her journey thus far and emphasised her deep longing to rediscover her roots.

Jolly’s early years began at ‘Ashraya,’ an adoption institution in Bengaluru, where she arrived at the age of five, alone. In 1992, she was adopted by a Swedish couple who brought her to their country when she was a seven-and-a-half-year-old girl.

Family tragedy

Following the tragic loss of her mother to suicide when she was around five, Jolly was placed under the care of a neighbour Jayamma from Maddur in Mandya district, who arranged her admission to St. Mary’s Convent, a boarding school in Bengaluru. Subsequently, she was transferred to the Ashraya Adoption Agency in Bengaluru, from where she was adopted by the Swedish couple.

“I seek to know my past to better understand myself. And, I wish to impart to my two-year-old daughter the story of my origins and introduce her to the homeland I hold dear, India,” Jolly said.

Reflecting on her experience adapting to life in Sweden, she said, “I always felt a sense of rootlessness in my new country. The people, language and customs were vastly different from what I knew. It was a daunting experience for an eight-year-old. Over time, I learned to adapt and suppress memories of my early years in India. However, as I grew older, the longing to uncover my true identity intensified.”

Search extends to Maddur

Jolly reached out to Arun Dohle, Director of Against Child Trafficking (ACT), Netherlands, and Advocate Anjali Pawar of Adoptees Rights Council, Pune, in 2017. Subsequently, she visited India in 2020.

“After an extensive search, it was discovered that Jolly Sandberg, previously known as Janu, was born on June 3, 1985, as the daughter of Vasantha from Maddur. Following her father’s tragic suicide and her mother’s subsequent remarriage to a man from Kayeesoppanabeedhi in Channapatna, Jolly’s upbringing was entrusted to her grandmother, Thimmamma.

Later, it came to light that Jolly’s mother, Vasantha, had committed suicide under unclear circumstances, at her second husband’s residence. Thimmamma was battling cancer and after her death, Jolly was placed under the care of Jayamma, a neighbour and Thimmamma’s friend in Maddur,” Anjali Pawar disclosed.

Despite visiting St. Mary’s Convent and Ashraya Adoption Agency in Bengaluru, their efforts revealed limited information. Jolly’s journey led her to Mysuru in the hope of tracing her father’s native village and locating any surviving relatives. “She recalls fond memories of playing with a baby elephant and enjoying a nearby large lake,” said Anjali Pawar.

The post Woman comes from Sweden to Mysuru to trace her roots, family appeared first on Star of Mysore.

More than 60 troupes to take part in the 25th Folk Festival

Mandya: The temple town of Melukote is geared up for 25th Folk Festival and Sri Cheluvarayaswamy Rathasaptami Mahotsava to be held atop the hill on Feb. 16 on the occasion of Rathasaptami.

The temple authorities have prepared the specially-made gold plated ‘Suryamandala’ upon which the utsava murti of Sri Cheluvarayaswamy will be taken on a procession. The main street of Melukote and the temple’s Rajagopura has been illuminated for the occasion. It is also an opportunity for the children to present their talents during  the folk festival.

Yathiraja Dasara Gurupeeta Sthanikam Nagaraja Iyengar Cultural Forum has organised the 25th folk festival in association with Department of Kannada and Culture in which more than 60 troupes would be taking  part. The event will begin as early as 6 am and culminate at 10 am on Feb. 16.

This apart, more than 200 folk artistes will be taking part in the procession of Sri Cheluvarayaswamy depicting both Indian and rural folk culture.

The organisers will also felicitate Veeraghase artiste Kiralu Mahesh, Kolata artiste Manuja and Benkibharate artiste Krishna and Kanyakumar and Puja Kunita artiste Koregala Ramesh during the Janapada Utsava to be held on Feb. 15 at 6.30 pm. The event will be inaugurated by MLC Dinesh Gooligowda. Hangarahalli Sri Vidyachowdeshwari Mahasamsthana Mutt Pontiff Sri Balamanjunathaswamy will grace the occasion. Agriculture and District Minister N. Cheluvarayaswamy and B.K. Dhanalakshmi, his wife will inaugurate the Rathasaptami festival. Melukote MLA Darshan Puttannaiah will preside. Mandya DC Dr. Kumara, Additional DC Dr. H.N. Nagaraj, SP N. Yathish will be present.

During the Rathasaptami festival to be held on Feb. 16, devotees will get to witness various folk troupes including Chande Mela (Udupi), Kerala Chande, Jaggalige Mela and Hagaluvesha (Hubballi), Brass Band and Nagari (Mysuru), Tamate Mela, Peacock Dance (Talakad), Hulivesha (Chamarajanagar) among others performing on the stage.

The highlight of folk festival would be Dollu Kunita, Pata Kunita, Garudi Gombe, Kolata, Chilipili Gombe and Puja Kunita by folk artistes from Mandya.

The post Melukote gears up for Rathasaptami Mahotsava appeared first on Star of Mysore.

With none from JD(S) first family to contest from Mandya

Bengaluru: While independent Mandya MP Sumalatha Ambarish has been making rounds to Delhi and meeting top BJP national leaders, expressing her intent to contest on a BJP ticket from Mandya, former PM and JD(S) Supremo H.D. Deve Gowda held a meeting with the party’s top brass to discuss the possible candidate.

It is a known fact that JD(S), having a strong base in Mandya, will want to field its candidate from Mandya. The party, which has officially joined the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), has demanded the Mandya seat as part of its seat-sharing pact for the upcoming polls.

However, the final decision on seat sharing is yet to be made official. Meanwhile, former PM H.D. Deve Gowda has indirectly sent a message to the BJP High Command about his party’s intent to contest from Mandya Lok Sabha Constituency.

The meeting, held in Bengaluru yesterday, was attended by JD(S) Core Committee President and Chamundeshwari MLA G.T. Devegowda, JD(S) Youth Wing President Nikhil Kumaraswamy, former Ministers C.S. Puttaraju, D.C. Thammanna, MLA H.T. Manjunath, former MLA Ravindra Srikanthaiah, Suresh Gowda, and Dr. Annadani, former MLC K.T. Srikantegowda and Mandya District JD(S) President Ramesh.

Deve Gowda also collected vital information from the local leaders during which former CM H.D. Kumaraswamy (HDK), who has been touring the Mandya district, also shared some information. The leaders, who have been insisting on fielding a candidate from the Deve Gowda family, especially Nikhil Kumaraswamy or H.D. Kumaraswamy, expressed confidence about the party candidate’s victory.

However, sources said that if none from the Deve Gowda family were interested in contesting, former Minister C.S. Puttaraju, who had earlier represented the Mandya seat between 2014 and 2018, would be an ideal candidate.

The JD(S) patriarch seems to have also instructed the leaders to ensure the previous Lok Sabha election result was not repeated when the JD(S) candidate was defeated despite having an election pact with the Congress party.

Nikhil not to contest, HDK reluctant

Nikhil has already expressed his desire not to contest and former CM Kumaraswamy has also told the media persons about his disinterest in going to Delhi.

With both leaders not interested in contesting, it is almost certain that Puttaraju would be the party’s candidate.

Later, speaking to the media persons, H.D. Deve Gowda said: “Nikhil will not contest since he will be touring the State for the election campaign and Kumaraswamy will decide on his contesting. Meanwhile, none from the family will be contesting from Mandya. However, the candidate will be announced in the next meeting,” he said.

‘Star’ Chandru to contest on Congress ticket?

Meanwhile, the Congress party seems to have finalised the candidature of industrialist ‘Star’ Chandru (Venkataramane Gowda) from Mandya at a meeting headed by Agriculture and Mandya District in-Charge Minister N. Cheluvarayaswamy at a private hotel yesterday. Chandru, a native of Nagamangala, is the brother of Gowribidanur Independent MLA Puttaswamy Gowda and a relative of Chikkaballapur MP B.N. Bacchegowda.

MLAs Ravikumar (Ganiga), P.M. Narendraswamy, Darshan Puttannaiah, Kadalur M. Uday, Ramesh Babu Bandisiddegowda, K. Harishgowda, MLCs Dinesh Gooligowda, Madhu G. Madegowda and others  were present.

The post C.S. Puttaraju emerges as a consensus candidate appeared first on Star of Mysore.

Mandya: Amidst the uncertainty over getting BJP ticket for the Mandya Lok Sabha seat after the party entered into an alliance with the JD(S), Mandya independent MP Sumalatha Ambarish met National BJP President J.P. Nadda and the party’s National General Secretary B.L. Santosh in New Delhi on Thursday, which has led to speculation.

With the Mandya LS seat likely to go the JD(S), a worried Sumalatha met the BJP top brass to lay her claims for the seat, which she won as an independent candidate in 2019 against Nikhil Kumaraswamy of the JD(S). During the meeting, Sumalatha is said to have pressed the BJP leadership to keep the seat for the party itself and give her the party ticket to contest the forthcoming LS polls.

Meanwhile, the ruling Congress in the State too is said to be not too much interested about Sumalatha. A few Congress leaders have openly said that the party has a good number of candidates for the Mandya seat and Sumalatha may not stand a chance to get the party ticket. In this backdrop, the independent MP is said to have met the BJP top brass in order to cement her candidature from Mandya LS seat.

The post Amidst uncertainty over ticket, MP Sumalatha meets BJP Chief appeared first on Star of Mysore.

Melukote (Mandya): Following the inauguration of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Jan. 22, the Nadaswara team from Melukote Cheluvanarayanaswamy Temple has been captivating the atmosphere in Ayodhya with their daily performances. 

This dedicated service, led by Nadaswara Vidwan M.P. Nagaraju, Dollu Vidwan Ashok, and other artistes, will go on without interruption for 48 days  at the temple.

The Nadaswara team’s repertoire includes performances during various events such as Utsav, Sri Balak Ram Special Puja, Sahasranama and Mangalaarathi, held every day since the inauguration of the Ram Mandir.

Impressed by the remarkable performances of the Melukote Nadaswara team, especially under the leadership of Vidwan M.P. Nagaraju, the Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra extended an invitation for the troupe to perform during the “Pran Pratishtha” ceremony on Jan. 22 and the subsequent days. The troupe has been faithfully delivering daily performances in Ayodhya and will continue this service for the entire 48-day period of Mandala Puja.

Expressing his sentiments, Nadaswara Vidwan M.P. Nagaraju mentioned that the team is performing with utmost devotion in Ayodhya. He emphasised that the team is offering this devotional service without any expectation of monetary returns. Being part of the Ayodhya performances is a source of pride for the entire team, considering the heightened levels of devotion.

The post Melukote Nadaswara team enthrals devotees at Ayodhya Ram Temple  appeared first on Star of Mysore.

Mandya: Dialogue writer and actor Malavalli Saikrishna has been selected as a member of State Film Awards Selection Committee for 2019. Others include: President – Nanjundegowda; Directors – Ramanath Rigvedi, Basavaraj Urs, Tunga Renuka, Pooja Gandhi and Sridhar Sambhram.

Saikrishna, also a member of Censor Board, who rose to fame through his unique Malavalli style of dialogue writing, has written dialogues for more than 100 films including Shivarajkumar’s ‘Jogi’.

The post Elected to State Film Award Selection Panel appeared first on Star of Mysore.

Mandya: Rajyotsava awardee Tamburi Javaraiah (86) passed away in his residence at Basaralu village in the taluk early yesterday morning  due to age-related illness.

Born at Basaralu in 1938 to a poor family, he studied only up to fifth standard and later took up Tatvapada rendition, which earned him fame.

A noted Tatvapada singer, Javaraiah was honoured with the Rajyotsava award in 2017 in recognition of his Tatvapada renditions.

The post Rajyotsava awardee Tamburi Javaraiah passes away appeared first on Star of Mysore.

Mandya: Even as Keragodu in Mandya taluk hit national headlines over the protests that broke out following the removal of Hanuma Dhwaja from the flagpost in the village late on Saturday night, the Keragodu Gram Panchayat (GP) Members have vented out their ire over the missing GP proceedings registry (book).

The Sri Gowrishankar Seva Trust had applied to Keragodu GP on Dec. 29 last seeking permission for hoisting of Hanuma Dhwaja, following which a GP meeting that took place the same day, granted permission with 18 out of the 22 members giving their nod for hoisting the  Hanuma Dhwaja.

The proceedings of the meeting on that day (Dec. 29) was recorded in the proceedings registry. But following the violence that erupted after the Hanuma Dhwaja removal, the registry book is said to have gone missing. After coming to know of it, Keragodu GP Members are said to have taken the GP Secretary Ratnamma to task.

GP Member Mahesh said that the flagpost in the village was built at a cost about Rs. 4-5 lakh, the money for which was contributed by villagers and youths. The flagpost was to be inaugurated by former Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy when the inauguration of Ayodhya Ram Mandir was to take place. But somehow, the flagpost was inaugurated in the absence of the   former CM, he said.

Continuing, he said that 21 out of the 22 Members of Keragodu GP attended the meeting held on Dec. 29, during which 18 Members including the GP President and the Vice-President gave their approval for the hoisting of the Hanuma Dhwaja from  the flagpost.

The meeting also resolved to hoist the Hanuma Dhwaja on all days except during the National celebration days and Nada Habba, Mahesh said adding that even the minorities had presented a memorandum in support of the Hanuma Dhwaja and had also donated money. But it is regretful to note that some people from our own religion were behind this unfortunate incident, he added.

Meanwhile, Mandya Zilla Panchayat (ZP) officials are said to have told that the Keragodu ZP proceedings book is with the ZP. The GP Members irked by the ZP’s action, have questioned whether it is right to take away the book without  their knowledge.

The post Keragodu GP Members angered over missing proceedings book appeared first on Star of Mysore.

Mandya: Strongly condemning the removal of Hanuma Dhwaja (Hanuma Flag) at Keragodu in Mandya taluk late on Saturday night and the Police lathi-charge that ensued, hundreds of BJP, JD(S) workers and scores of Hindu activists took out a massive padayatra to Mandya yesterday.

The Padayatra, which began with the performance of Puja at Keragodu Anjaneyaswamy Temple at 8 am, culminated at the Mandya DC’s office covering a distance of 15 kms. The entire Padayatra route was covered with saffron hues, with banners, buntings, flexes etc., dotting the route. Several houses along the route were seen adorned with Hanuma Dhwaja.

The Padayatra passed through Hulivana, Kommerahalli, Satanur, Chikkamandya, Kalikamba Temple and Nanda Circle before touching the Mysuru-Bengaluru Highway. The Padayatra culminated at the Mandya DC’s office, where the protesters submitted a memorandum to DC Dr. Kumara. En route, the protesters tore off the flexes and posters of Mandya Congress MLA Ganiga Ravikumar, whom the Hindu activists blamed of fomenting trouble.

After reaching Mandya, the protesters lit fire to the posters of CM Siddaramaiah,  Mandya District in-Charge Minister N. Cheluvarayaswamy and MLA Ganiga Ravikumar at Nanda Circle and Mahaveera Circle in the town. Soon the Police rushed to the spot to douse the fire, when the protesters entered into a verbal duel with the Police. The Police had to resort to mild lathi-charge to disperse the restive crowd.

Later, the protesters sat on the Mysuru-Bengaluru Highway and raised slogans against the Government. As the Highway was blocked for more than half an hour, vehicles lined up on both sides of the busy Highway and vehicles could be seen stranded for over 3 kms on either side of the road.

Former Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, who wore a saffron shawl, former Minister C.T. Ravi and other BJP and JD(S) leaders addressed the protesters and demanded that the Government take back the curfew in Keragodu.

Former Ministers C.T. Ravi, C.S. Puttaraju and D.C. Thammanna, MLAs Gali Janardhan Reddy and H.T. Manju, former MLAs K. Sureshgowda, Dr. K. Annadani, K.C. Narayanagowda and Preetam Gowda, leaders B.R. Ramachandra, M.S. Raghunandan, D. Ramesh, C.P. Umesh, Dr. Indresh, Muniraju, Chandagalu Shivanna, Induvalu Sachhidananda, S.P. Swamy, Dr. Siddaramaiah, K.S. Nanjundegowda, Ashok Jayaram, Lakshmi Ashwin Gowda and others took part in the protest.

A large posse of Policemen were deployed at vantage points to prevent any violence. Meanwhile, the prohibitory orders clamped in Keragodu following Sunday’s violence, continued for the second day on Monday. Shops and other establishments remained shut for the second day on Monday and the weekly fair at Keragodu scheduled for Monday too was cancelled.

Keragodu PDO suspended

Amidst the violence that broke out in Keragodu following the removal of Hanuma Dhwaja by the authorities late on Saturday night, the Government on Monday suspended Keragodu Gram Panchayat PDO B.M. Jeevan on five counts of dereliction of duty and lapses.

Jeevan is accused of permitting Sri Gowrishankar Seva Trust, a private Trust, for construction of  flagpost in a Government space in violation of rules and regulations. The other charges against him include allowing the hoisting of a religious flag in violation of the terms and conditions put forth, failure to take action even though the religious flag was blatantly hoisted instead of the national flag, failure to take immediate action when the matter was brought to his notice and being directly responsible for the protest, confusions and breakdown of law and order that ensued at Keragodu when the Mandya SP, Assistant Commissioner, Tahsildar and other Government officials came to the spot on Jan. 28 for removal of the religious flag, according to Mandya ZP CEO Shaikh Tanveer Asif.

The post Keragodu Hanuma Dhwaja row: Police resort to lathi-charge as protest turns violent appeared first on Star of Mysore.

Mandya: Keragodu, one of the hobli headquarters in Mandya taluk, turned tense on Sunday after Police lathi-charged the villagers and activists of Hindu organisations who were protesting against the removal of Hanuma Dhwaja (Hanuma Flag) from a flag-post in the village. Keragodu was an Assembly Constituency of Mandya district until 2008.

Several Hindu activists and villagers sustained injuries in the Police lathi-charge and all the injured were shifted to Mandya District Hospital for treatment.

Trouble began when the authorities late on Saturday night removed the Hanuma Dhwaja and tied the National flag to the flag-post located in front of Keragodu Rangamandira, which was strongly opposed by the villagers and Hindu activists.

Later, the protest turned violent when the Police lathi-charged the group of villagers and activists who tried to break through the Police barricades and cordon.

Following the tension that engulfed the entire village after the  lathi-charge, the Mandya Police clamped prohibitory orders under Section 144 of CrPC in the village until further orders. Meanwhile, the village wore the look of an undeclared bandh on Sunday, with almost all shops downing their shutters. 

The Opposition BJP and JD(S) have blamed local Congress MLA Ganiga Ravikumar for the incident, accusing him of fostering violence.

Following the prevalence of tension, a BJP team led by Opposition Leader R. Ashok visited the village yesterday afternoon to interact with the villagers, Hindu activists, BJP and JD(S) workers and to receive inputs from them regarding the incident.

However, BJP leaders Ashok, Dr. C.N. Ashwathnarayan, Chalavadi Narayanaswamy, Preetam Gowda, Suresh Gowda, Narayanagowda, Dr. Indresh, Ashok Jayaram and Sachidanand, JD(S) leaders B.R. Ramachandra, M.S. Raghunandan and others were taken into preventive custody by the Police  and were released late yesterday night.

Speaking about the incident, Mandya District In-charge Minister N. Cheluvarayaswamy alleged that there was a lot of politics behind the incident.

Maintaining that neither he nor the Mandya MLA had any role in the incident, Minister Cheluvarayaswamy said that the religious flag that was hoisted at Keragodu was removed as it was against the Constitution.

Pointing out that only the National Flag can be hoisted in Gram Panchayat limits, Cheluvarayaswamy said that, however, there is no provision for hosting a religious flag in Government spaces. He further said that the Gram Panchayat had given permission only for hoisting the National Flag.

Call for Mandya Bandh on Feb. 9

Meanwhile, Bajarang Dal has called for Mandya bandh on Feb. 9 in protest against the Keragodu Hanuma Dhwaja  incident, during which the Police lathi-charged the protestors who were protesting against the removal of the Hanuma Dhwaja. 

The post Mandya’s Keragodu tense as row erupts over Hanuma Dhwaja removal appeared first on Star of Mysore.