The Mysore Grahakara Parishat (MGP) has planned a silent protest in Mysuru on August 30 against the State government’s reported move to amend the Government Parks (Preservation) Act, 1975.

The proposed amendment, passed by the State Assembly, seeks to permit portions of park and garden land to be used for public infrastructure and utility projects. MGP has expressed concern over the provision that could allow up to 5% of park land to be “sold, leased, gifted, exchanged or mortgaged”.

MGP’s founding-working president Bhamy V. Shenoy and working president S.K. Dinesh have written to Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot urging him not to give his assent to the proposed amendment to the Act, arguing that the move will result in destruction of parks. They urged him not to sign the Bill to save the State’s parks and thereby protect the environment.

According to MGP, the existing Act permits 5% of park land to be used only for park maintenance. It has opposed expanding the provision, stating that it could open the way for the gradual diversion of parks for purposes other than their intended use.

The organisation has also warned that such a move could have a long-term impact on the environment at a time when cities are increasingly facing the effects of climate change and loss of green spaces.

The proposed protest is intended to demonstrate strong public opposition and convey the concerns of citizens to the Governor, Mr Shenoy said.

MGP has appealed to Mysureans, environmental activists and NGOs working for environmental protection to participate in the protest. Citizens have also been urged to write to the Governor opposing the Bill, they said.

The protest will be held at Cheluvamba Park on August 30 from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. For details, contact S.K. Dinesh at 98451 10202.

Former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who was in New Delhi in connection with discussions on the Cabinet expansion, made a brief visit to Mysuru on Tuesday (July 28).

Sources in the Congress party said Mr. Siddaramaiah flew to Mysuru from the national capital to participate in the rituals related to his elder son Rakesh Siddaramaiah’s death anniversary. He flew back to Delhi after participating in the rituals on Tuesday. 

Speaking to reporters in Mysuru, Mr. Siddarmaiah expressed confidence that the Cabinet expansion would be finalised by Tuesday evening, when a meeting is scheduled to take all decisions in the regard.

However, he said questions related to the date and time of the expansion should be directed to Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar.

Legendary singer S. Janaki was cremated with state honours at a farmhouse in Kaniyanahundi near Mysuru on Sunday evening.

Janaki’s granddaughter Apsara Vydyula performed the last rites as per Telugu Brahmin traditions in the presence of her close relatives, people’s representatives, friends, and a large number of admirers and the general public.

Earlier, Janaki’s mortal remains were brought in a vehicle with police escort to the farmhouse in H.D. Kote taluk of Mysuru district from Maharaja’s College grounds, where it was kept for public viewing.

The last rites were held at the farmhouse belonging to Janaki’s admirer and caretaker Naveen as per the singer’s wishes. Janaki’s late husband Ramprasad was from Mysuru and the singer had chosen to make Mysuru her home in the last few years. Both Janaki’s husband and their only son Murali Krishna had predeceased her.

Ms. Apsara thanked the government for the state honours and public homage. On Janaki, Ms. Apsara said her grandmother was one of a kind with remarkable talent, and was special for the whole world. “I will remember her more as a grandmother, who was so kind and generous. She was full of love and laughter with a child-like spirit. She was a unique soul,” Ms. Apsara said.

The cremation was attended by Urban Development Minister Yathindra Siddaramaiah, MLAs T.S. Srivatsa and Anil Chikkamadu, Deputy Commissioner of Mysuru Lakshmikant Reddy, Superintendent of Mysuru Mallikarjun Balandandi and Mysuru Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officer Yukesh Kumar.

Several personalities from the Kannada film industry including chairperson of Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce S. Jaimala and veteran actress Bharathi Vishnuvardhan and noted music composer Hamsalekha also attended the cremation.

Extensive arrangements had been made at the farmhouse with barricades erected from the approach road to the place of cremation. Adequate police personnel had been deployed to maintain security at the venue. 

Demands for memorial

Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar said he would discuss with the film industry how to memorialise Janaki in Mysuru for posterity. “She was a nightingale of Indian cinema. She won four national awards and 33 state awards. We have also honoured her with the Rajyotsava Award. I offered her family members to airlift the mortal remains to Hyderabad or Chennai, if they so wished. But they said she wished to be cremated in Mysuru only. She spent her last days here, and we will discuss with the film industry and decide how to honour her memory,” he said.

Earlier in the day, music director and lyricist Hamsalekha and chairperson of Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce and actor Jaimala pitched for ways to memorialise the legacy of Janaki in Mysuru. 

Mr. Hamsalekha said the music industry is keen on setting up a meditation centre and music school at the farm in Kaniyanahundi, where she was cremated. He appealed to the State government to extend its support to the venture.

“A memorial in her honour will be a befitting tribute to her contribution to the world of cinema,” he said.

Ms. Jaimala pitched for a study centre on music at the University of Mysore. “Such a centre will facilitate studies in Janaki’s singing and her long and illustrious career as a playback singer in multiple languages,” she said. 

The melodic gem Naguva Nayana from Pallavi Anu Pallavi (1983) depicts the charm of old Bengaluru and finds a special place in the hearts of those who grew up in the city before its rapid transformation. S. Janaki’s graceful rendering and her striking chemistry with S.P. Balasubrahmanyam create a nostalgic comfort hard to beat.

The song is a reminder of the legacy Janaki, who passed away in Mysuru on Saturday (July 11), leaves behind. With the passing of the playback singing great at 88, a vital chapter in the history of Kannada cinema comes to an end.

“She displayed extraordinary talent in singing songs across genres,” director Yogaraj Bhat told The Hindu. He added, “She used to be addressed as ‘amma’ by everyone, and today, with her death, it feels like we have heard the last line of her lullaby. However, her music is eternal.”

Among the tributes that poured in from the Kannada music and film fraternities, one sentiment stood out: her extraordinary versatility. When Kannada cinema music witnessed the birth of youthful romantic music with Premaloka (1987), Janaki was at the forefront. Her expression of love in the song Idu Nanna Ninna Prema Geethe Chinna was marked by youthful energy.

Music composer Gurukiran calls her “the queen of South Indian music”. “She was Ilaiyaraaja’s favourite. It’s a commendable achievement, because Ilaiyaraaja is a meticulous perfectionist. Those days, there was no process of pitch correction. So, to maintain such a high quality is proof of her talent. We were lucky to be born in her era,” he says.

Part of Kannada culture

With the song Jotheyali from Geetha (1981), Janaki became an inseparable part of Kannada culture. The song, buoyed by Janaki’s heartfelt rendering, is a hit at any festival celebrating the State and the language.

“She is a great role model for the next generation of playback singers,” says lyricist V. Nagendra Prasad, who notes, “Despite not being a Kannadiga, she learnt the language. She had the ability to provide the right expression for the lyrics. She was also blessed with great texture, helping her sing several children’s songs.” Songs such as A Aa E Ee Kannadada Aksharamale, Sihimuttu, Sihimuttu Innondu were among the songs she rendered in the voice of a child.

Composer R.P. Patnaik was surprised by one of her unique abilities. “You wouldn’t see any expression on her face when she sang. Any expression, including mimicry, emerged from her throat,” he explains.

Retro hits

Kannada retro hits have a strong presence of Janaki, says film historian K. Puttaswamy. “Her song Gaaligopura Ninnashatheera from Nanda Deepa (1962), Yaava Janmada Maithri from Gowri, and Bhuvaneshwariya from Mareyada Haadu were some of her solo classics.”

Janaki lent her voice to iconic songs for every renowned music composer in Kannada cinema. If it is Gaganavu Ello for Vijay Bhaskar in Puttanna Kanagal’s Gejje Pooje (1969), then it is A Aa E Ee Kannadada for Ranga Rao in the movie Karulina Kare (1970). Under the composition of the celebrated duo Rajan-Nagendra, one of Janaki’s memorable songs is Ellu Hogalla from Gandhada Gudi (1973).

For the legendary G.K. Venkatesh, Janaki’s evergreen number is Malenaada Henna in the classic Bhootayyana Maga Ayyu (1974). Ee Bandhana — M. Ranga Rao’s composition — is a love anthem from Janaki for the romantic tragedy Bandhana (1984). The song features K.J. Yesudas, who shared a long and successful musical partnership with Janaki.

Even the great Janaki was also challenged, he recollects. “She had confessed in a reality show that Shiva Shiva Ennada from S. Siddalingaiah’s Hemavathi (1977) was one of her toughest renditions she had ever sung.”

The 10th edition of the Mysuru Literature Festival began in the city on Saturday, bringing together authors, artistes, historians, entrepreneurs, and literature enthusiasts from across the country.

Curated by Shubha Sanjay Urs and organised by the Mysuru Book Clubs Charitable Trust and the Mysuru Literary Forum Charitable Trust, the festival was formally inaugurated by Pramoda Devi Wadiyar of the erstwhile Mysuru royal family.

Former diplomat and author Amish Tripathi, the guest of honour, referred to the legend of Goddess Chamundeshwari slaying Mahishasura and said Mysuru derived its name from that mythology.

Paying tribute to the Wadiyar dynasty, he said the rulers had served the people of the region by establishing educational institutions and hospitals, while also developing well-planned cities.

Author and entrepreneur Aroon Raman, another guest of honour, said he was delighted to be part of the festival’s tenth edition, recalling that he had also participated in its inaugural edition in 2017.

On the occasion, the organisers felicitated Ankegowda of Pustaka Mane, Mandya, who was conferred the Padma Shri earlier this year.

The festival also witnessed the release of several books by Pramoda Devi Wadiyar. These included Malgudiya Mayakarana Mane by Jayashree Jagannath and Shubha Sanjay Urs, coinciding with the 120th birth anniversary of R.K. Narayan.

Other books released were Core Strength: Triton Valves – The First Fifty Years by Roopa Pai, Soulful Symphony by Hemamalini Lakshman, If Gandhi Returned by Rudrappa C., and Longing for an Elsewhere by Chandan Gowda.

The covers of Inner Charioteer by R. Balasubramaniam, a full-time member of NITI Aayog, and Mysuru Lancers by Anil Raje Urs were also unveiled.

The literary sessions began with a session by author Shatavadhani R. Ganesh, who spoke on the need to preserve literature and poetry.

Later, in a conversation with journalist Shankar Bellur, aviation pioneer Capt. G.R. Gopinath shared his views on how India is transforming in contemporary times.

K.S. Jayalakshmi, who publishes the Sanskrit daily Sudharma, spoke about her efforts to preserve classical and endangered languages such as Sanskrit and Saurashtra, while professor Chandan Gowda explained how the erstwhile Mysore State evolved into a model developmental State in India.

The opening day concluded with the screening of the documentary Cauvery: The River of Life by Sanjay Gubbi.

Bengaluru Blasters recorded a last-gasp victory over Gulbarga Mystics in the opening match of the DACSS Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20 tournament at Mysuru on Saturday.

Blasters needed 11 runs to win in the final over bowled by Kranthi Kumar, with captain Shubhang Hegde and Praveen Dubey at the crease. Shubhang eased the pressure with a boundary off the second ball. With one needed off the final delivery, Praveen got the job done.

Batting first, Mystics posted a challenging 201 for five with contributions from Prakhar Chaturvedi (64, 38b, 6×4, 4×6) and Aarav Mahesh (63, 41b, 6×4, 3×4).

In reply, Blasters started confidently with Bhuvan Raju (56, 29b, 3×4, 4×6) and Rohan Patil (31, 24b, 3×4, 2×6) adding 88 runs for the opening partnership in 7.1 overs.

Mystics bounced back with a couple of quick wickets to reduce the Blasters to 122 for three in 11.3 overs.

K.L. Shrijith (22, 15b, 3×4), Shubhang and Praveen then took over to ensure a Blasters’ victory.

The scores: Gulbarga Mystics 201/5 in 20 overs (Prakhar Chaturvedi 64, Aarav Mahesh 63) lost to Bengaluru Blasters 202/4 in 20 overs (Bhuvan Raju 56).

A day after staging a protest against the felling of trees near Kukkarahalli Lake, members of Parisarakkagi Naavu, an environmental organisation, met Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) Mudit Mittal on Thursday and sought details and justification for the removal of trees along the railway tracks adjacent to the lake.

In a representation submitted to the DRM, the organisation said its members had visited the site and found that several mature trees had been cut. The loss of tree cover in the green corridor was a matter of public concern, it said, particularly in the context of climate change and increasing urban heat stress.

While acknowledging the importance of railway safety and uninterrupted train operations, the organisation maintained that vegetation management should be undertaken transparently, based on scientific assessment, and only to the extent necessary.

The group sought copies of all orders, approvals, inspection reports, risk assessments and other records that authorised the tree felling. It also requested details of the officials who inspected the site and recommended the removal of the trees, the technical criteria used to justify felling instead of pruning, and information on permissions obtained from the Forest Department or other competent authorities.

The organisation also sought species-wise details of the trees removed, including their approximate age and girth, as well as information on the compensatory afforestation and restoration measures proposed by the Railways administration.

In its representation, the organisation urged the Railways to adopt and publicly communicate a policy under which tree removal is undertaken only when no reasonable alternative exists, and pruning is preferred wherever feasible. It also called for all pruning and tree management operations to be carried out by trained personnel under the supervision of qualified officers, and for healthy trees outside the minimum safety clearance zone to be preserved.

Stating that Mysuru residents have long valued the tree cover around Kukkarahalli Lake and its surroundings, the organisation said railway safety and environmental conservation could be achieved simultaneously through careful planning, professional supervision, and adherence to best practices in tree management. It urged the office of the DRM, Mysuru, to place all relevant records in the public domain and review the actions taken.