Sir, The politicised 21-million dollar United States Agency for International Development (USAID) allocated to India to influence voter turnout has created an impression among the common man that USAID is evil funding and harming the nation. This perception is rampant among most millennials, who are ignorant of our past. Their knowledge is driven by WhatsApp…

Sir, Yesterday’s Abracadabra column in Star of Mysore by K.B. Ganapathy (KBG) was frank, fearless and threw new light on newspapers and democracy. ‘Democracy dies in darkness’ is the official slogan of The Washington Post printed in the cover page which many are not aware of. But the new Avatar of it may require that…

Sir, As a concerned citizen and a daily commuter on Bogadi-Manasagangothri Road, I am writing to bring attention to the chaotic and hazardous situation at the signal junction near DMS, AIISH and the commercial establishments, with a temple on the other side. This Cross Road has become a severe bottleneck, leading to frequent traffic jams…

Sir, This is to bring to the notice of MCC authorities concerned about a huge tree slanting to one side (as in the photo) and posing a danger to the residents of Second Cross West of Vishwamanava Double Road. This tree, which is about 35 years old, has grown up to a huge size of…

Sir, There is a small lake in Dattagalli 3rd Stage, located beside the Ring Road leading to the H.D. Kote Road junction. A few years ago, a metallic fence was installed around the lake to prevent encroachment. However, the lake’s maintenance has been completely neglected. The water is now covered with green aquatic weeds, preventing…

Sir, The junction on KRS Road, in front of the Railway Community Hall near Ramakrishna Vidyashala, connects key areas including Yadavagiri, V.V. Puram, Vontikoppal, KRS Road, Gokulam Extension and Mysuru city. With five major roads converging at this point, motorists currently face a wait of 4 to 5 minutes at the traffic signals, a situation…

Sir, Apropos the news item ‘Illegal ad boards, posters to attract MCC action’ (SOM dated Feb. 17). It highlights the repetitive and largely ineffective measures taken by the Mysuru City Corporation (MCC). Back in 2002, when N. Jayaram served as the MCC Commissioner and Kumar as the Assistant Commissioner, a special team was formed to…

Sir, With reference to the recent road accident on the Bengaluru-Mysuru Highway near Channapatna (Car lands atop another car, SOM dated Feb. 18, 2025), placing barricades on highways is unacceptable from a road safety perspective. I had highlighted this concern in my letter published in this column (Why barricades on Highways?, Dec. 2, 2024). While…

Sir, I am writing to you on behalf of the distraught residents of Telecom Layout in Bogadi 2nd Stage. A road contractor has dug up a trench across the only entrance to the layout without leaving any space even for pedestrians, let alone two-wheelers. There was no planning or consultation on this overnight development. As…

Sir, The very first and cover page of Star of Mysore 48th Anniversary Special Issue, published on Feb. 16, 2025, attracted me as one could not read it as an advertisement  but as a letter of testimony for Star of Mysore. It is from our city’s well-known apartment builder Sankalp, headed by Dr. V.K. Jagadish…