Mysuru: The 40th anniversary celebrations of Star of Mysore was inaugurated by Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Chemicals, Fertilizers and Pharmaceuticals H.N. Ananth Kumar at the Platinum Jubilee auditorium of MMC&RI, J.K. Grounds here last evening, by lighting the traditional lamp.

Padma Bhushan  T.J.S. George, Editorial Advisor, The New Indian Express, released the book titled “Star of Mysore — Story of a unique evening english newspaper” written by Star of Mysore Founder and Editor-in-Chief K.B. Ganapathy. Prof. K.C. Belliappa, former Vice-Chancellor of Rajeev Gandhi Central University, Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh, spoke on the book.

Indian Mythologist, Author and Star of Mysore Columnist Devdutt Pattanaik delivered a special lecture.

On the occasion, five Department Heads of SOM — Foreman K. Kumar (Printer Kumar), Circulation Manager T.S. Gopinath, Advertisement Manager Maria Fernandes, Manager (Accounts and Administration) H.P. Prasad and Executive Editor Meera Appaiah — were felicitated by the dignitaries [See pic. on page 12]. Publisher of the book T.S. Chayapathy was also honoured during the celebrations.

K.B. Ganapathy delivered the opening address. JSS University Director (Academic) Dr. P.A. Kushalappa and Preethi Prakash Prabhu, both of Geeth Gaatha Chal-fame rendered the invocation. Vikram Muthanna, Managing Editor of Star of Mysore, welcomed the gathering. Mickey Bopanna, Executive Director, Academy Newspapers Pvt. Ltd. (Publisher of SOM and Mysooru Mithra), proposed a vote of thanks. SOM Features Editor N. Niranjan Nikam compered the programme.

MP Pratap Simha, former Minister S.A. Ramdas, MLA Vasu, retd. Justice M.F. Saldanha, Bishop-Emeritus Thomas Antony Vazhapilly, Fr. Dennis Noronha, former Mangalore and Goa Universities VC Prof. B. Sheik Ali, JSS Mahavidyapeetha Executive Secretary Dr. C.G. Betsurmath, Dakshina Kannada ZP CEO and Mysooru Mithra Columnist Dr. M.R. Ravi and others were present among the audience.