Sir,

Every time during my morning walks with Prof. B. Sheik Ali, I walk on the footpath separated by steel fence adjacent to the University of Mysore Guest House and I see a lot of construction materials lying on the lawn. Since it has been lying in this state for many years, grass and other vegetation has grown around it presenting an ugly picture.

Today, I made up my mind to take some pictures. Since it was not a hospitable stretch, I requested nonagenarian Prof. Sheik Ali to sit on the bench and went alone to snap some pictures. In fact, it was quite an ordeal to go along overgrown vegetation and there was always a fear that I may step on some cobra or other poisonous snake lurking and had to wend my way carefully.

A single shot will not give a complete picture as one can see flat slabs, Mangalore tiles and reinforcements getting rusted lying helter-skelter. It is distressing that the authorities concerned have not cared to remove it and use it usefully elsewhere. In fact, the best way of disposing it is by auction. This only reflects apathy and indifference of University for its neglect.

This fact is more than evident by deterioration of the whole of Manasagangothri campus which was sparkling during its centenary year celebrations not too recently when the whole campus was spruced up. I can only say that Kuvempu of revered memory at the entrance gate, Buddha under the Peepul tree and Baba Saheb Ambedkar have become mute witnesses of the sad state of affairs.

But the tragedy is that recently the University had commissioned lots of artists who did magnificent work of sculpting Gandhiji’s statues in many moods, who stood for cleanliness and what we see is a stark contrast to these personalities.

– H.R. Bapu Satyanarayana, Saraswathipuram, 19.6.2019

You can also mail us your views, opinions, and stories to [email protected]