Sir,

Last year around this time I, along with my family members attended a wedding ceremony at Mysuru. After the conclusion of the function, a relative of ours invited us to come and relax at their place before returning home.

As we wanted to avoid travelling in the hot sun, we readily accepted the offer. I was given the latest issue of Star of Mysore, which happened to be the anniversary issue, to while away the time. I found the contents to be of such absorbing interest that I went through the issue from cover to cover. I also realised that SOM could be accessed online. Since then I have become a regular reader online.

During my subsequent visits to Mysuru in November, I also happened to go through some print issues of Star of Mysore. I was very much impressed by the beautiful colour photographs displayed, particularly of the Mysore Palace and I decided to enroll myself as a regular subscriber as I could read the same at my leisure and share the contents with those interested. My attraction for Mysuru stems from the fact that my father had his roots in Mysuru. He was born there and studied at Marimallappa’s High School. Thereafter, he went to Bombay and studied at VJT Institute and took up employment in Bengaluru after earning his Diploma. I remember, fondly, my visits to Mysuru accompanied by my father in late 1930s and early 1940s when I was a Middle School student. My father was representing the Mysore Government Soap Factory which used to set up a stall at the Dasara Exhibition Grounds.

We used to stay at the house occupied by my uncle in Halladakeri area (ancestral property). It was a very spacious house, although old-fashioned. I cannot imagine nowadays such a location. It was so close to the Mysore Palace and commercial centre, I could watch the Dasara procession in both directions during the princely regime. Mysuru was a fairyland those days with full of water fountains lit by neon signs around the Palace area. Mysuru has still retained its charm with lots of open spaces and greenery.

In conclusion, I wish SOM all success in its future endeavours.

– M.K.Subba Rao, Melkote Apts, Malleswaram, Bengaluru.