To unveil portrait painting of the Gallery Co-founder late Sheela Kaverappa

Mysuru :

Bharani Art Gallery, Mysuru’s first service-oriented private art gallery, will host a three-day art exhibition from June 7 to 9 at its premises, 3rd Main, 6th Cross, Vivekananda Nagar, Mysuru, bringing together artists and art enthusiasts from across Karnataka.

Established in 1994, Bharani Art Gallery has been dedicated to the promotion and development of visual arts through exhibitions, workshops, artist camps and cultural initiatives. The gallery is recognised for providing artists with a professional exhibition space, modern lighting facilities and free-of-rent residential accommodation for participating artists.

Over the years, Bharani Art Gallery has organised numerous art camps and exhibitions and has played a significant role in discovering and promoting emerging artists from Karnataka.

The gallery has also hosted works by acclaimed artists from cities such as Mumbai, Kolhapur, Sangli, Bengaluru, Udupi and other cultural centres across the State. To date, around 100 art exhibitions have been conducted at the gallery.

The gallery has also achieved the distinction of conducting an art camp, exhibition and discourse of then 10 senior most artists of Karnataka and also hosting, one of the first exhibitions themed ‘Vedic Art’ featuring women artists from Finland and Australia.

As part of the upcoming event, a portrait painting of the Co-founder of Bharani Art Gallery, late Sheela Kaverappa, done by well-known portrait artist Baburao Nadoni of Belagavi will be unveiled during the inauguration ceremony and he will subsequently conduct a live portrait demonstration for visitors and fellow artists.

The exhibition from 11 am to 7 pm will feature artworks by 16 well-known artists, showcasing a diverse range of contemporary and traditional artistic expressions. The event will be inaugurated by Sadhana Ashok Pote, Joint Director, Administrative Training Institute (ATI), Mysuru, at 11 am on June 7.

The portrait will be unveiled by Addanda Cariappa, former Director of Rangayana, Mysuru. Maddikere Gopal, President, District Kannada Sahitya Parishat, Mysuru, will preside over the event.

Entry is free.

For details, contact Bharani Art Gallery Founder & Chief Convenor N.B. Kaverappa on Mob: 94485-54221.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Feature Articles / June 04th, 2026

‘I want to create worlds in these books that are an immersive way to learn history without it being forced,’ the author says

The battle between Alexander and Porus forms the backdrop of Sarita Mandanna’s novel The War Elephants of Trigarta. | Photo Credit: Wiki Commons

Sarita Mandanna, author of the 2010 book Tiger Hills, a bildungsroman set in 19th century Coorg, is back with two new books of historical fiction, The War Elephants of Trigarta and Secrets Among the Stars (Aleph Book Company). The difference is that this time, she is writing for a younger audience. The U.S.-based author talks about why she wants children to learn about Indian history, what it means to mix history and science with fiction in politically charged times, and resisting the temptation to write happy endings. Edited excerpts:

Author Sarita Mandanna

 Your previous books, Tiger Hills and Good Hope Road (2015), are also works of historical fiction, but this is your first foray into writing for children. What inspired you to explore this new direction?

 I grew up in a house of books. I attribute my love of the written word, both reading and writing, to my mother, and I’d love to inculcate that in my child as well. My son is in middle school now, and it can be challenging to get him to read. I’m always looking for content that would interest him. Since we live overseas, it’s also important to me that he knows his roots. That was a major motivation.

Also, the way I was taught history in schools was so focused on dates and learning by rote. I had some wonderful teachers, but I think it’s fair to say that people of my generation liked history despite the way it was taught, rather than because of it. I wanted to create worlds in these books that are an immersive way to learn history without it being forced.

 How rigorous is the research that goes into a book like ‘The War Elephants of Trigarta’. Of course, Alexander the Great is a household name, but how much of the rest of the book is based on actual history?

 It is a mix of both. We grew up hearing that old Hindi song ‘Sikandar Ne Poras Se Ki Thi Ladayi’, so we all know that Alexander fought Porus, but we don’t know who Porus is. We don’t even know if it was his name, or a title. What we know is Alexander fought the Battle of Hydaspes where he faced Porus and his large contingent of war elephants. Therefore, the kingdom was likely to have been fairly large and prosperous. I looked backwards, at the Mahabharata, to research sizeable kingdoms that were there at the time. That’s where the leap of imagination comes into it — Trigarta was an ancient kingdom in the region and I used that as the setting.

There’s also the issue with Alexander — what we know about him is second-hand. So much has been lost to time. I read several books, cross-referenced them, and then tried to find the human motivation through it all. Once you have the scaffolding of facts, then you just overlay that with the story. People haven’t really changed that much. Motivations haven’t changed.

 The book ends on a bittersweet note. I found that very interesting since with children’s books, there is sometimes a temptation to force in happy endings.

 I would have loved for everyone in the book to have a happy ending as well. War is brutal though. When you live through one of the most epic battles of the time, what does that aftermath look like?

We should give children a lot more credit than we do in terms of how to handle big emotions and large ideas. War is terrible, loss does happen. The challenge is to find your way forward after the battle.

 History as a subject has become particularly contentious in India lately. So has the history of science and technology. The Pushpak Vimana, which features heavily in ‘Secrets Among the Stars’, was the subject of controversy when it was brought up as a fact during the Indian Science Congress in 2015. As a writer of fiction, do these complications play on your mind?

 It’s important to stick as closely to the facts as possible. What happened happened, and I don’t support excluding or championing episodes of history without factual backing. Now, the further back in antiquity you go, the harder it is to get definitive proof. I do think it’s important to retain a questioning mind. Take the Pushpak Vimana, for instance: to categorically state that this was just the product of someone’s imagination is perhaps reductive. Stating its existence as indisputable fact is sub-optimal as well. The truth is out there, and until there is firm proof one way or the other, why not try and learn more? There is so much in India that is still undiscovered, troves of documents that are still being deciphered. So much has been lost through the millennia, with the various conquests and invasions. I certainly believe there’s room for a lot of questions, and startling answers as well.

 What is the future of the Bold Chronicles series that these books are a part of? Are there more books coming?

  That’s the idea! These are the two bookends of the series. The War Elephants of Trigarta is set 2,500 years ago, and Secrets Among the Stars is set much more recently during ISRO’s mission to the moon. The rest of the books will be set within this time period. Each one will be standalone, and the books can be read in any order.

Bold Chronicles is a passion project, to showcase this 2,500-year-old subset of the incredibly rich history of India in an easy and accessible manner. The protagonist of each of these books is placed in challenging circumstances, but they are never a victim. They have the ability to make choices and bring about real change. I want the books to ignite in each reader, the spirit of curiosity, questioning and agency. I want them to ignite a sense of lasting pride in our shared heritage and an appreciation for all that has happened before us.

The interviewer is a Mangaluru-based science writer and author, most recently, of ‘ Lab Hopping : A Journey to Find India’s Women in Science’.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Books> Authors> Interview / by Nandita Jayaraj / June 05th, 2026

According to reports, Sandhya had ventured into the coffee estate along with two others.

Forest Department personnel captured an elephant at Chenneyyanakote, Badaga Banangala, in Kodagu district, following the death of a coffee planter in an attack by a wild elephant in March 2026. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

The wife of a senior IPS officer was killed in a wild elephant attack in a coffee estate in Konanakatte village near Thithimathi in Ponnampet taluk of Kodagu district, in Karnataka, on June 5.

The deceased Sandhya Achaya (51) is the wife of A. Sunil Achaya, a 1991-batch IPS officer of the Nagaland cadre.

The incident has sent shockwaves across the district, where recurring human-elephant conflict has claimed several lives in recent years. Residents of elephant conflict-prone areas have repeatedly urged the government of Karnataka to implement long-term measures to address the growing menace.

A senior forest officer from Nagarahole Tiger Reserve confirmed the elephant attack.

According to reports, Sandhya had ventured into the coffee estate along with two others. During the visit, a wild elephant suddenly emerged and charged at the group. While the others managed to escape to safety, Sandhya was reportedly attacked by the animal. She sustained grievous injuries, and succumbed while being rushed to a hospital.

The tragedy marks another fatality linked to elephant encounters in Kodagu.

In May, a tourist lost her life at Dubare Elephant Camp near Kushalnagar after being caught in a tussle between two captive elephants. The incident resulted in the closure of elephant camps for tourists as a safety measure until an SOP for visitor safety is framed.

The latest incident at Thithimathi has once again highlighted the issue of human-elephant conflict. Increasing encounters between people and wild elephants continue to pose a serious challenge for forest authorities and local communities across Kodagu, even as the government of Karnataka has assured elected representatives from the district that it will work towards finding a permanent solution to the problem.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> India> Karnataka / by The Hindu Bureau / July 05th, 2026

Manju Chinappa, the president of the UKO, said complaints have been received about the Gram Panchayats imposing exorbitant taxes on Ain Manes in the district.

Image of tax used for representational purposes only.File Photo

Madikeri :

The United Kodava Organisation (UKO) has urged the government to exempt Kodava traditional houses known as Ain Mane from property tax.

Manju Chinappa, the president of the UKO, said complaints have been received about the Gram Panchayats imposing exorbitant taxes on Ain Manes in the district. He demanded immediate withdrawal of these taxes and complete tax exemption to Ain Manes in Kodagu. He said Kodavas consider Ain Manes as the divine abode of their ancestors and deities. “The elders of the Kodavas, who followed the joint family system, had built large Ain Manes centuries ago. Family worship and rituals are being conducted there for generations,” Chinappa said.

Although joint families have faded out, the Ain Manes are still being maintained despite many challenges, and a family is assigned to maintain each of these traditional houses, he said. “These Ain Manes are considered divine abodes of the entire clan. Maintaining the Ain Manes at present is a big challenge, and it is condemnable that the local bodies are imposing such high taxes,” Chinappa said.

He also warned that if the tax is collected by force, a strong agitation will be launched in the coming days.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com/ The New Indian Express / Home> Karnataka / by Express News Service / June 03rd, 2026

Mysuru :

Nainy’s World by Nanumals has organised ‘Meet the Author: C.P. Belliappa’ at their Booktique known for Fashion, Books and Art, located at Ground Floor, Om Sai Complex, Doctors’ Corner (7th Main, 9th Cross), Gokulam III Stage, Mysuru, on June 5 (Friday) from 5 pm to 7 pm.

He is the author of the following five books:  Tale of A Tiger’s Tail and other Yarns from Coorg; Nuggets from Coorg History; Victoria Gowramma: The Lost Princess of Coorg (English and Kannada); Tongue of the Slip: Looking back on Life with Humour; Coorg Stories and Essays

On the occasion, Nanumals Books and Cultural Club will be inaugurated. C.P. Belliappa writes humour, history and human interest stories and is a contributor to websites, magazines and newspapers, including Star of Mysore.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / June 02nd, 2026