Dr. Lakshminarayan, his wife feted

Mysore/Mysuru: Chamarajanagar MP V. Sreenivasa Prasad has bemoaned that the medical profession, which was a service minded and noble profession, is now getting commercialised.

He was speaking after releasing ‘Narayana Namana,’ a felicitation volume dedicated to noted city  doctor Dr. V. Lakshminarayan, at a programme organised by Dr. V. Lakshminarayan Felicitation Committee at Ganabharathi in Kuvempunagar here on Sunday.

Observing that at a time when all professions are getting commercialised, Prasad said that Dr. Lakshminarayan upheld the dignity of the profession and served as a Doctor of the common man.

Noting that Dr. Lakshminarayan had provided health care to literary doyen Kuvempu for ten years, the MP recalled the service of Dr. Lakshminarayan when he (Prasad) was airlifted to Bengaluru when he fell seriously ill while serving as Union Minister over two decades ago. This is one of the many examples of Dr. Lakshminarayan’s commitment, dedication and determination and humanity, he said.

Stating that Dr. Lakshmi-narayan, who hailed from a remote village in Kolar, completed his education and started his medical profession in Mysuru, the MP said that Dr. Lakshminarayan’s family members had to sell off their land for payment of fees and other expenses. But despite coming up the hard way, Dr. Lakshminarayan never forgot his past and continues to serve the profession.

Recalling his long political journey, Prasad said that he would be completing  50 years of electoral politics on Mar. 17, 2024 and during this long journey in politics, he never had a black spot. “I have contested 14 elections thus far since 1974. During this long period, I never compromised on my commitment. I never aspired for power, money and other positions. I have already announced my political retirement after this current term as MP ends next year,” he said while reiterating that he never compromised on his principles or public commitment.

MLA T.S. Srivatsa said that Dr. Lakshminarayan was known to persons from every field. He was one of the few medical practitioners who had a motherly heart. He lauded the services of Dr. Lakshminarayan to the medical profession.

Senior BJP leader Raghu Kautilya said that Dr. Lakshminarayan is an outstanding medical practitioner who never aspired for money and rendered public service in accordance with his conscience.

Former Kuvempu University Vice-Chancellor Prof. K. Chidananda Gowda, writers  Dr. H.V. Nagaraj Rao, Dr. Preeti Shubhachandra and Kalkundi Naveen too spoke. Former District Kannada Sahitya Parishat President N. Girigowda read out Suttur Mutt Seer Sri Shivarathri Deshikendra Swamiji’s message.

Dr. Lakshminarayan and his wife Lakshmidevi were felicitated  on the occasion. Former Kuvempu Bhasha Bharathi Chairman Dr. Pradhan Gurudatta presided. Senior Journalist Ravindra Bhat delivered the felicitation address.

RSS leader M. Venkatram, Dr. D.K. Rajendra, B.V. Sridhar, Mahima Srinivas, Prof. C.K. Renukacharya, Dr. MGR Urs, Dr. Neelagiri Talwar and others were present.