Mysore/Mysuru: Maintaining that the society and the country can grow if family relationships and bonding are well and good, former University of Mysore (UoM) faculty Prof. Neelagiri M. Talwar said that parents must be given due respect by family members.

He was speaking at the book release (‘My Father’) of writer Dr. Manu Baligar, former IAS Officer and immediate past President of Kannada Sahitya Parishat at a programme jointly organised by Talukina Venkannaiah Smaraka Granthamaale, Mysuru and Kannada Sahitya Kalakoota, Mysuru at the District Kannada Sahitya Parishat’s Office in Vijayanagar first stage here yesterday.

Regretting that the relationship  between parents and their wards are getting deteriorated in these days of mechanical and modern life, Prof. Talwar expressed concern over the increasing trend of elderly parents being driven to take shelter at old age homes.

Noting that Dr. Manu Baligar’s work ‘My Father’ explains in detail how the relationship and co-ordination between parents and their children must be, especially in these days of fast moving life, he said that the book also highlights how his relationship with his father, both as a father and a friend, was.

Recalling that Manu Baligar’s father Parameshwarappa Baligar was also a Guru for him (Prof.Talwar) in his childhood days, Prof.Talwar said that Parameshwarappa, apart from being a teacher, was also a wrestler, a dedicated farmer and a disciplined individual.

Observing  that the debates going on in some platforms  on whether past traditions or modernity is bigger, will only lead to hatred and anxiety in the society, he said that it is laudable that Manu Baligar has explained thoroughly on how  good values drawn from our rich heritage and traditions  can be incorporated in our life.

Author Manu Baligar said that his father had written the words ‘You should dedicate yourselves to the country’ on a compound wall of his house. Recalling that his father also used to say often that patriotism  should be more practised than preached, he underlined the need for leading a value based life.  

Suttur Mutt Seer Sri Shivarathri Deshikendra Swamiji, who graced the occasion, released the book ‘My Father.’ 

Former  Chairman of the Department of Studies in Ancient History and Archaeology, University of Mysore Dr. A.V. Narasimhamurthy presented  a Rs.1 lakh cheque to Manu Baligar for funding endowment programmes of the  Kannada Sahitya Parishat.

Prof. Basavaraj Donur, Registrar of Central University of Karnataka, Kalaburagi, who translated the Kannada book ‘Appa’ into English ‘My Father’ spoke about the book.

Talukina Venkannaiah Smaraka Granthamaale Publisher T.S. Chayapathi, Kannada Sahitya Kalakoota President M. Chandrashekar, immediate past President of Mysuru District Kannada Sahitya Parishat Dr. Y. D. Rajanna, senior theatre personality Rajashekar Kadamba and others were present.