An ace biographer, columnist, critic, poet, master essayist, novelist and editor of many works — H. S. Krishnaswamy Iyengar (HSK) was a gentle giant in the realm of literature and journalism. Always wearing a warm and endearing smile, this affable and humble soul chronicled the life and times of personalities, both at home and abroad…
Her wit, irony, critique and realistic portrayal of the often deplorable condition of young women in our society made her one of the most popular Kannada writers of her day. Probably among the first to weave Psychology into her in-depth narratives, no facet of existence, however subtle or shockingly obvious was ever left out. Readers…
By Dr. S.N. Bhagirath [Continued from yesterday] A similar episode concerned a rich Chettiar businessman in Mysore by the name of Sahukar Channaiah. When Channaiah suffered substantial losses in his later years, he went into depression and ill health. Bidaram Krishnappa (Chowdaiah’s Guru) sang for Sahukar Channaiah for a couple of weeks, apparently hastening his…
Well-built, loud, affable and endearing in his personality, T. Chowdaiah was humility personified. He is remembered among other things, for the introduction of the seven stringed violin in the Indian context. He was an Asthan Vidwan of Mysore Palace and was a constant accompaniment to some of the titans of Karnatak Music in South India….
By Girija Madhavan An oil-painting of a pastoral scene in green and gold, catches a ray of the morning sun where it hangs on a wall in our home. The workers in the field seem to come alive, the foliage moves in the morning breeze in contrast to the static hay ricks in the background….
His discoveries of ‘Halmidi Inscription’ (what was then the oldest known Kannada Inscription – 350 A. D.), of the site of lost Mauryan city of ‘Isila’ near Brahmagiri, of Shivaji’s father’s (Shahaji’s) forgotten tomb and his years as Director of the Mysore Archaeological Department where he was responsible for cataloguing nearly two thousand inscriptions is…
By Girija Madhavan Star of Mysore recently carried two touching stories about pets. I recall an unusual one from my childhood. In the early 1940s, after an illness, I was kept at home. Our Railway bungalow had a large garden. A lonely child, I wanted a pet for company. Dogs were vetoed because the family…
By Girija Madhavan Spring in Mysuru brings jewel-like flowers to the leafless, stumpy branches of the Frangipani trees after the cold season. The flowers usually have five white petals around a heart of gold. Some blooms are pale yellow set off by a magenta centre, or white deepening to pink; all are lovely and delicately…
By Girija Madhavan Our lessons began on Valmiki Road, shaded by rain trees, where traffic was sparse. We would drive slowly up to the Mosque at the end of the road, turn round and drive back. Father insisted that I practise hand signals as I drove. At that time the fashion was to wear glass bangles;…
By Girija Madhavan Recently, the Oriental Research Institute (ORI) in Mysuru marked its 125th anniversary. It was set up in Mysore in 1891 by Maharaja Chamaraja Wadiyar Bahadur. Now called the Oriental Research Institute, it is a magnificent building, which combines graceful Romanesque arches with classical Indian sculptures. Star of Mysore has published articles on…
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