Mysore/Mysuru: Avadhoota Datta Peetham Seer Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji said that we should remember the contributions made by great personalities of Mysuru such as H.C. Dasappa and Sahukar Chennaiah, as this will help inspire the people to follow their ideals and principles.

He was speaking after releasing journalist -author S. Prakash Babu’s book titled ‘Mysuru Gandhi H.C. Dasappa and King Maker Sahukar Chennaiah’ at a programme organised under the joint aegis of District Kannada Sahitya Parishat and H.C. Dasaappa Vichara Samsthe at the Ashram on Nanjangud road here on Thursday.

Noting that it is the responsibility of everyone to remember our elders, Sri Swamiji regretted that our younger generation has been failing to do so citing lack of time in this era of mechanical life. He opined that we should take time to remember our elders. H.C.Dasappa, a well-known  freedom fighter  and Sahukar Chennaiah were two great personalities who are a source of inspiration for the younger generation, he added.

Recalling his association with Sahukar Chennaiah, Swamiji  remembered an instance when his car had broken down near Mandya  while he was on way to Bengaluru decades ago. Sahukar Chennaiah happened to pass by on the road and came to his help by getting water for filling the car’s radiator.

“Sahukar Chennaiah asked me whether I was Ganapathy Swamiji. When I said yes, he offered me a big site at Nazarbad as donation. Though I declined the site, Chennaiah simply transferred the site to my name, saying that I can give it to anyone I wanted. Later, the Ganapathy Ashram was established on Nanjangud road, when the Nazarbad site, which was donated by Chennaiah,  was sold for a good price at that time. Since then, Ganapathy Ashram has been hosting programmes under his name. At one point of time, I told Chennaiah that I was leaving for Andhra, when he advised me to stay put in Mysuru and I have done so,” the Seer recounted  adding that he still remembers seeing the children of freedom fighter H.C. Dasappa once.

Veteran litterateur Dr. C.P. Krishnakumar (CPK), who is also the Asthana Vidwan of Ganapathy Ashram,  said that the book author Prakash Babu has explained in detail the life and times of Dasappa and the generosity of Sahukar Chennaiah.

Pointing out that the book highlights Mahatma Gandhi calling Dasappa, whom he knew, as an honest and humble person, he said that the book also sheds light on the lesser known fact that Dasappa was one among the few who got an opportunity to offer Gangajal to Gandhiji during his last moments.

The book also makes a detailed mention of the life of Dasappa’s wife Yashodhara Dasappa, who was the first woman Cabinet Minister of Karnataka, CPK added.

Former Karnataka Sanskrit University Vice-Chancellor Dr. Padma Shekar too spoke.

Former MLC D. Madegowda, Vidyavardhaka Educational Institutions Secretary and former Mayor P. Vishwanath, H.C. Dasappa Vichara Samsthe Secretary Saroja Tulasidas, District Kannada Sahitya Parishat President Maddikere Gopal, Secretary Latha Mohan, former President M. Chandrashekar, author Prakash Babu, senior theatre personality Rajashekar Kadamba and others were present.