A book on Kamala Gopalaswamy’s contributions to Akashvani & Shishuvihara

M.G. Rajanikanth (third from left), youngest son of Dr. M.V. Gopalaswamy and Kamala Gopalaswamy, who retired as Manager, Media India Ltd., Bengaluru, releasing the book ‘Dheemanta Mahile Kamala Gopalaswamy’ at Gopalaswamy Shishuvihara premises in Lakshmipuram on Jan 26. Others seen are C.V. Gopinath of Anathalaya Trust and retired Additional Secretary to Government of India; Dr. A.S. Chandrashekar, President, Gopalaswamy Shishuvihara Institutions; N.R. Manjunath, Correspondent, Gopalaswamy Shishuvihara Institutions; Dr. M.S.Vijay Haran, author and N. Keshavamurthy, Programme Executive, AIR Mysuru.

An event was held at Gopalaswamy Shishuvihara Institutions in city on Jan. 26, 2026 to release the book ‘Dhimanta Mahile Kamala Gopalaswamy.’

The book, written by Dr. M.S. Vijaya Haran, Retd. Deputy Director General, All India Radio (AIR), is a succinct and charming account of the life and times of late Kamala Gopalaswamy, wife of late Dr. M.V. Gopalaswamy, who founded both Mysore Akashvani and Gopalaswamy Shishuvihara.

Dr. Pranatarthi Haran has lent able research assistance to Dr. Vijaya Haran’s efforts.

The book was released by M.G. Rajanikanth, the youngest son of Dr. M.V. Gopalaswamy and Kamala Gopalaswamy, with Satyabhama, their elder daughter-in-law receiving the first copy.

Dr. Vijaya Haran says, “I particularly wanted to write this book as Kamala Gopalaswamy has been an unseen, but important hand behind two very important milestones in the history of Mysuru. We are proud of both institutions that inform, educate and empower the common man.”

N.R. Manjunath, Correspondent, Gopalaswamy Shishuvihara, Samskruthi Subramanya, the Publisher of the book, the extended family of late Dr. M.V. Gopalaswamy and Kamala Gopalaswamy and other dignitaries and well-wishers were among those present.

 Special mention goes to members of Sirigannada Odugara Okkuta Kannada Book Club and members of a Federation of Akashvani listeners.  They made the function evocative and interesting through narrations of personal anecdotes and stories of the two prominent institutions — Akashvani and Shishuvihara — which have earned the love and respect of Mysureans.

Janan Kaushik, great-great-grandson of Dr. M.V. Gopalaswamy and Kamala Gopalaswamy, singing a devotional song. Picture right shows The children of Gopalaswamy Shishuvihara Institutions rendering the invocation.

Major highlights of the programme were an invocation rendered by the children of Shishuvihara and a solo devotional hymn sung beautifully by 9-year-old Janan Kaushik, the great-great-grandson of                     Dr. M.V. Gopalaswamy and            Kamala Gopalaswamy.

Dr. A.S. Chandrashekar, President, Gopalaswamy Shishuvihara Institutions, presided. N. Keshavamurthy, Programme Executive, AIR Mysuru, enlivened the occasion by ensuring that members of the audience participated in the event with their own experiences.

The venue holds special significance as Shishuvihara is set to celebrate its 100th anniversary. The school was established especially to impart early childhood education to pre-schoolers by Dr. Gopalaswamy and was managed by his wife Kamala Gopalaswamy and mother Rajammal.

 Manjunath revealed, “This is a special year for us. We plan to hold a series of such events and finally a grand celebration on the occasion of the centenary in September.”

Members of Sirigannada Odugara Okkuta with author Dr. Vijaya Haran.

The book tells the story of Kamala Gopalaswamy, who fulfilled the roles of wife, mother, daughter-in-law and so many other roles women are called upon to play on a daily basis. It tells how she performed each role and also played a powerful, yet unseen role of supporting her husband through all his efforts, sometimes at financial and emotional costs to their young family. It is written candidly and features conversations Dr. Vijaya Haran has had with family members and friends of                      Kamala Gopalaswamy.

Priced at a modest Rs. 95, ‘Dhimanta Mahile Kamala Gopalaswamy’ is available at Samskruthi Book Agencies. It is the first in a planned series of 100 such books proposed by the Publisher. For details contact Bharathi Ghanashyam  (grand-daughter of  Kamala Gopalaswamy)  on Mob: 99867-93314.

This post was published on February 3, 2026 6:26 pm