Mysore/Mysuru: Former Karnataka Legislator Mahima J. Patel regretted that the society now a days is chasing money and power, which is not a good sign. He was speaking as the guest of honour at a programme organised under the joint aegis of Vismaya Book House and Allama Research and Cultural Foundation for the release of three books — ‘Lokantada Moretha’, ‘Nelada Nenahu’ and ‘Indra Jaala’ — scripted by senior Journalist Veerabhadrappa Bislalli, at the Institution of Engineers-India (IEI) on JLB Road here on Saturday last.

Bemoaning that the current system is collapsing due to its own contradictions, Mahima Patel, who is also the son of former Chief Minister late J.H. Patel, said that service mindedness among the people is fast eroding due to the pressures of the system. 

Regretting that  public service sectors such as the newspaper industry, educational institutions, Medical centres, commodity trading centres etc., are all after money, he stressed on the need for a more humanistic approach for resolving social, economic and other issues which are bothering the country.

Expressing disappointment over the state of affairs in the State, Mahima Patel said that the system has collapsed so much so that people express their sympathy for those who serve the society with honesty, wholeheartdness and transparency.

Even Vidhana Soudha, the seat of power too, is mired in personal discussions rather than discussing  Governance, developmental , public and social issues.

Chamundeshwari MLA G.T. Devegowda, who spoke after releasing the books, observed that the type of democracy and  democratic principles that existed when J.H. Patel was the Chief Minister of the State, may not be seen again in the State. J.H. Patel as the Chief Minister had led by example on how the bureaucracy must behave and work for the welfare of the State. 

Recalling J.H. Patel’s oratorical skills, Devegowda said that Patel had the power to cool down any movements through his address. Now there are hardly any politician who can match his oratorical and convincing skills, he added.

Former MLAs Vasu and Balaraj, University of Mysore faculty  Prof. Muzaffar Assadi, Pacche Nanjundaswamy (son of former MLA and farmer leader late Prof. M.D. Nanjundaswamy), writer Chinnaswamy Vaddagere, Publisher Prakash Chikkapalya, author Veerabhadrappa Bislalli and others were present.