Mysuru: As part of its monthly programme ‘Sadhakarondige Samvaada’, the Mysore Art Gallery will felicitate teachers Sangappa and Muralidhar on May 13 at 11 am at its premises on Ramanuja Road.

Writer and journalist Homma Manjunath will be the chief guest. Retired Botanist from Sarada Vilas College Dr. Y. Gururaj, retired teachers B.K. Venkatanarayana and T.N. Ganesh, Kaliyuva Mane founder M.R. Ananthkumar and President of Cauvery Balaga N.K. Cauveriamma will be the special invitees at the interaction.

About the awardees     

Sangappa is a well-known name in teaching circles of Mysuru. Regarded as a creative teacher who has dedicated his life to enhance the knowledge of children, Sangappa has organised many debates, cultural events, essay competitions, competitions for language, science quiz and mathematics assignments.

There are many occasions where Sangappa has donated money from his own pocket for those students who could not afford schooling. He has even reserved a part of his pension to help poor students. 75-year-old Sangappa hails from K.R. Nagar and has served as a teacher in Mysuru, Hassan and Mandya. His simplicity and down-to-earth character was illustrated at the wedding of his daughter where bicycles and sewing machines were distributed to poor students. His son’s wedding was like an all-religion conference.

Muralidhar is also a well-known teacher who has served for over 36 years. Even after retirement, he teaches ‘origami’ for poor students and he buys the required materials for the art and distributes among students. He visits various schools and popularises the art and trains the students in the same. In over 25 years, Muralidhar has trained more than 40,000 students and teachers in ‘origami’.  The 64-year-old Muralidhar also conducts summer camps on folk music, theatre and drama, preparing drama instruments and masks. He has received many awards for his works and has won President’s Silver Medal twice.