Sir,

Ever since SOM columnist Sujata Rajpal interviewed a true versatile patriot Dr. Manik A.V. Bengeri on Aug.3, Bengeri is continuously in news for a very right reason of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav occupying full pages of the evening paper.

The features under ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav: 1947-2022 – Saluting Brave Army Officers’ with introductions reveal her hidden patriotism. I feel proud of her since she had established contacts with me for her activities over 40 years ago when I was serving as Information Officer in Mysore. Suffice it to say that she continues her patriotic work for long in her life time.

Here, I recollect how late  Dr. M.A. Gokhale, whom she has introduced in SOM dated Aug. 17, used to visit me for his service activities and once he desired to give a talk on ‘Discipline in Life’ in Kannada (Jeevanadalli Shistu) at Vartha Bhavan, which so much influenced the audience.

Her latest write-up on the brave army officers was published in SOM on Aug. 25. I wish to congratulate Dr. Manik Bengeri all well with a long and healthy life.

– K. Vijaya Kumar, Mysuru, 26.8.2022

Note: When SOM was thinking about Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s idea of celebrating the 75 years of our independence and how SOM could take it forward as a newspaper, it was Dr. Manik Bengeri who discussed the idea with me for a series of articles on defence personnel who are settled in our city and are achievers as brave hearts. That was the genesis of this series.

For our own security and of our future generation we must love our country and protect its borders. Love presupposes service and sacrifice, and our defence personnel are role models of patriotism and nationalism who deserve  to be remembered on the occasion of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav.—KBG

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