"It was a wonderful experience interacting with you and appreciate the way you have planned and executed the whole publication process within the agreed timelines.”
Subrat SaurabhAuthor of Kuch Woh Pal
In the earlier part of the last century, the princely state of Mysore and the University of Mysore bore witness to some truly remarkable personalities. These stalwarts and their lasting contributions left behind a lasting legacy on the intellectual landscape of Mysore and India on the whole. While there were many in their ilk, the author of this work began focusing on those who were primarily associated with the University, to begin with. These biographical pieces were written as feature articles in the ‘Star of Mysore’ newspaper. V. Seetharamaiah, T. V. Venkatachala Sastry, M. Hiriyanna, M. H. Krishna, S. Srikanta Sastri and Brijendranath Seal are among those featured here. These articles were well received by the reading public in Mysore. Incidentally, it was the centenarian lexicographer and litterateur G. Venkatasubbiah who suggested that these sketches be collected in one place as a book. This book is the realisation of such a dream. More than just a chronicle of academicians and writers, this book serves to encapsulate a glorious era in Mysore’s history, where genuine merit, scholarship and integrity meant more than base notions of caste, corruption and nepotism. A glimpse into those times only serves to highlight, rather disappointingly, the slow but inevitable demise of meritocracy in our social polity today.
Dr. Bhagirath. S. Naganath
Dr. Bhagirath. S. Naganath is an anaesthetist by profession. He hails from Mysore in South India. Despite a hectic schedule at work, writing constitutes a prominent part of his creative itinerary. He has been writing page length feature articles in English newspapers in India for nearly a decade. He also pens English poetry and short stories in his free time. An avid yoga enthusiast, he enjoys long treks in the countryside and finds much comfort listening to Western and Indian classical music.
He happens to be the grandson of eminent Indian historian and Indologist Dr. S. Srikanta Sastri. He shares a keen interest in History, Indology and Indus Valley Archaeology and helps his father, Prof. S. Naganath, in their combined efforts at re-publishing, editing and translating many of Dr. S. Srikanta Sastri’s works. Dr. Bhagirath manages a website (www.srikanta-sastri.org) where he showcases most of his grandfather’s works and priceless group photographs from the heydays of the University of Mysore.
