In a curious case, a 10-cm-long worm was surgically removed from a man’s eye. The 66-year-old man, a former soldier from Cherambane in Madikeri taluk, had been experiencing persistent itching in his left eye for a month.
He visited the Iksha Super Specialty Eye Hospital in Madikeri on the September 12, where Dr A G Chinnappa examined him.
Upon examination, Dr Chinnappa found a swelling on the conjunctiva (the white part of the eye) that was moving. A scan revealed a long worm inside the swelling.
An emergency surgery was performed, and the worm was removed. The worm measured 10 cm in length. Further microscopic examination confirmed that the worm was a Loa loa, a type of parasitic worm commonly found in Africa. If left untreated, the man could have suffered from blindness. The successful surgery has saved the man’s vision, and he is receiving further treatment.
“We could see some movement on the eye ball and subjected him to a scan which revealed the presence of a worm. We immediately performed surgery under local anasthaesia. We were surprised that the worm was still alive and was 10 cm long”, said Dr Chinnappa.
source: http://www.english.public.tv / Public TV / Home / by Public TV English / September 20th, 2025
On Sunday, the 13th (of July), my father and the Founder-Editor of Star of Mysore and Mysuru Mithra, K.B. Ganapathy, passed away.
Knowing him, I think he would have got a kick out of it if he had kicked the bucket on Friday the 13th, popularly considered an unlucky day.
It feels odd to write about my father, but I feel I owe it to the readers of Star of Mysore, who have made this small newspaper from this small city into one of India’s most successful evening newspapers.
To not write about him would feel wrong. Especially because his life was not only well lived, but it was also wildly interesting.
KBG, as he was popularly known, never really spoke much of his early life with me until a few years ago, when I became a father and he, a grandfather. The stories were fantastic.
When you become one of the youngest lawyers in Bengaluru at a time when jukeboxes and dance halls were in vogue…
When you, as a nerdy, bespectacled boy from Coorg to have the audacity to move to Bombay to become an actor, then a scriptwriter, without knowing a word of Hindi…
When you rejoin College in Bombay to study journalism and are chosen to work under a legend like T.J.S. George…
When you launch your own advertising agency in Pune and help name the now-iconic moped, Luna…
When you move Osho Rajneesh from Juhu Beach into an apartment and handle his first PR campaign for The Illustrated Weekly of India…
When you finally pack it all up and return to Mysore to run a bill-book printing press… and then start your own newspaper… You’re bound to have stories. And KBG had a whole lot of them and he told them brilliantly…
From tales of quirky Bombay industrialists to the eccentricities of Osho Rajneesh, from the spiritual gurus he encountered in his career to dealing with political thugs he had confronted, his stories were always unexpected, always unforgettable.
Whether he was protesting at the Bombay Docks with George Fernandes or breaking ‘journalistic ethics’ by openly campaigning for H.S. Shankaralinge Gowda in Mysore, KBG lived with a conviction few dared to match and fewer still could argue with, though I often did.
What made him a good journalist was simple. A nose for news, a maniacal work ethic, and a fearlessness that bordered on charming arrogance.
KBG also had a quirk. He never wore a shirt without a pocket. Why? Because he always carried a tiny notepad and a pen. Even on the day he died, he had notes scribbled in his little notepad stuffed in his shirt pocket — observations and “news points for reporters.” He never stopped reporting.
KBG loved intellectual combat, and often our dinner table arguments ended with me yelling, “Youth may be wasted on the young, but wisdom is definitely wasted on the old !”
He would smirk and say, “Don’t flatter yourself. At your age, only Rahul Gandhi can be forever young.” Then, with a smile, he would ask, “Drink?”
That was KBG. You could argue with him, disagree with him, even mock him, but he always knew how to separate debate and decency.
That same spirit defined Star of Mysore. Even if you didn’t share his ideology, your voice still had a place in his paper.
Through Star of Mysore and Mysuru Mithra, he gave voice to countless civic warriors. Many of them eventually joined politics, but before that, they helped shape our city.
He encouraged service clubs like Rotary, Lions and MGP, believing they created a collective civic conscience to keep the Government accountable.
Though he had an irreverent side, he was also deeply spiritual.
On his 85th birthday, I asked him, “After all these years, what according to you is happiness?” He replied instantly, “Freedom from physical pain.”
Then, after a pause, added, “You can have all the money and status you want, but if your body is hurting, even if it’s a toothache, you’ll be miserable.”
I asked when he had this spiritual epiphany. With a mischievous smile he replied, “When I had piles.” We both laughed. I said, “Now you know how it feels to work with you.” He laughed and clapped, something he would do on hearing something witty. That bellowing laughter with clapping will be missed.
Since his passing, people have asked me how I’m coping. For now, I keep reading the note he would write on the first page of his diary every year for over 40 years. They are lines from the Bible:
“The race is not to the swift,
nor the battle to the strong,
nor does food come to the wise
or wealth to the brilliant,
but time and chance happen to them all.”
And then he would add, in his own hand:
“So do not despair, Ganapathy, for this too shall pass.”
And so, while we grieve, we carry on, for… this too shall pass.
On behalf of my family and everyone at Star of Mysore and Mysuru Mithra, Thank You, dear readers, for your love and loyalty. We hope to continue informing, entertaining and waking the activist in every Mysurean.
P.S.: After his passing, some have criticised the current State Government for not offering KBG State Honours like his peers got.
Honestly, it doesn’t matter.
What greater honour can a journalist ask for than the love of his readers?
That, for my father, was more than enough.
e-mail: vikram@starofmysore.com
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Columns, In Blace & White , Top Stories / by Vikram Muthanna / July 26th, 2025
Kodagu Deputy Commissioner Venkat Raja during the inauguration of ‘Har Ghar Tiranga campaign’ in Madikeri on Tuesday. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
The Kodagu district administration, on Tuesday, launched the three-day ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ campaign, which will see a variety of programmes being organised as part of the Independence Day celebrations.
The ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ campaign, commemorating the 78th year of India’s independence, will be held from August 13 to 15 across the district.
Deputy Commissioner Venkat Raja inaugurated the campaign at his office in Madikeri. The Revenue, Panchayat Raj, School Education and Literacy, Pre-University Education, Social Welfare, Backward Classes Welfare, Urban Development, Municipal Administration, and Kannada and Culture Departments have joined hands to conduct various activities at the event.
Mr. Raja said that the ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ campaign was being organised as per government directions, and added that programmes will be conducted at district, taluk, and gram panchayat levels through different departments. He appealed to all the participants to upload their selfies to https://hargartiranga.com after participating in the campaign.
Municipalities, town panchayats, and city councils will host a variety of events; schools, colleges, and hostels will also conduct a range of activities, the Deputy Commissioner said. “It is very important that everyone participates in the ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ campaign,” he added.
Additional Deputy Commissioner R. Aishwarya said that various programmes had already been conducted in schools, colleges, and historical places, and urged everyone to contribute to the success of the campaign. Social Welfare Department Deputy Director and taluk panchayat Executive Officer Shekhar said that arrangements had been made to organise the campaign in various gram panchayats and hostels.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> India> Karnataka / by The Hindu Bureau (Headline edited) / August 12th, 2025
Nearly 200 varieties of indigenous rice varieties on display at the desi rice mela, which was inaugurated in Mysuru on Saturday. | Photo Credit: M.A. SRIRAM
The two-day desi rice mela commenced in Mysuru on Saturday, with seed conservators expressing concern that commercial crops were pushing the traditional paddy varieties to the brink.
The objective of the mela is to highlight the paddy diversity that existed in the Old Mysuru region, and how scores of indigenous paddy varieties are going out of vogue due to the proliferation of hybrid varieties and shifting consumer preference to white polished rice.
With over 200 paddy varieties on display, the mela is being held at Nanjaraja Bahadur Choultry, and has been organised under the aegis of Sahaja Samrudha and the Save Our Rice Campaign. Also on display are traditional rice varieties from different States, including rare types such as red rice, aromatic rice, black rice, medicinal rice, and bold-grained rice, along with value-added rice products.
Paddy conservators from across the State are selling their own desi rice directly. Seeds of popular varieties like Rajamudi, Burma Black, Sidda Sanna, Ratnachudi, Navara, Govind Bhog, HMT, and Sindhoor Madhusale are also on display and for sale.
The mela was inaugurated by B.P. Ravishankar, a seed conservator from Hudoor in Ponnampet, Kodagu. He has preserved as many as 57 desi rice varieties.
“Paddy cultivation is becoming increasingly expensive. With the arrival of commercial crops, traditional paddy varieties are being pushed to the margins and the government must provide necessary support to bring these desi rice varieties back into farmers’ fields”, said Mr. Ravishankar.
Unveiling medicinal rice varieties, Shridevi Annapurna Singh, former Director of the Central Food Research Institute, said that traditional varieties are rich in nutrients, while the black and red rice varieties have medicinal properties, and called for their inclusion in people’s diets.
Presiding over the event, G. Krishna Prasad, Director of Sahaja Samrudha and the Organic Farmers’ Collective, said that farmer-breeders in Karnataka have developed excellent paddy varieties like Sidda Sanna, Sindhoor Madhusale, Andanoor Sanna, and NMS-2. “The government must take steps to release these varieties, which are popular among farmers,” he said.
Mr. Prasad also cautioned against any attempts by the government to introduce transgenic paddy varieties that pose risks to the environment and consumer health. Farmers and consumers must remain vigilant to prevent transgenic paddy from entering farmers’ fields, he added.
C. Shanthakumar, the coordinator of Save Our Rice Campaign, said that Karnataka was the home of paddy diversity, but hundreds of varieties have been lost due to lack of demand. ‘’The desi rice mela has been organised to create awareness among farmers and consumers about nutrient-rich, traditional paddy varieties suited to local food habits,” he added.
The mela also offers millets, vegetable seeds, tubers, organic products, and fruit saplings that are for sale.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> India> Karnataka / by The Hindu Bureau / August 09th, 2025
In a heartfelt tribute to Kalyatanda B. Ganapathy (KBG), Founder-Editor of Star of Mysore and Mysuru Mithra, Sri Kaveri Kodava Association, Mysuru East and Kodagu Model School held a condolence meeting at the school’s Cheethamma Hall recently.
Association members, leaders and school representatives highlighted KBG’s towering personality as a journalist, mentor and champion of public service.
Association President Kademada M. Belliappa remembered KBG as a visionary from Kodagu, whose media platforms empowered civic awareness across Mysuru.
Former President Kanjithanda K. Aiyappa reflected on the values KBG embodied, stating, “Birth is an option, but death is predetermined.” He credited KBG with sparking the idea of Kodagu Model School.
Senior member Kakamada Subbaiah noted that KBG’s life and values continue to shape how his passing is honoured, while former President Puliyanda S. Devaiah shared personal memories of their long-standing association as neighbours, calling KBG “a guide, mentor and enterprising figure” who contributed to the School’s bylaws and resource networks.
Former Secretary Appachangada Motaiah recalled KBG’s pivotal role in overcoming early challenges in building the school, acknowledging the commitment of teacher Chowrira Prapulla and Chairperson Chowrira Seethamma, alongside his own guidance.
Former Treasurer C.M. Chengappa praised KBG’s inclusive leadership and his rare Hon. Doctorate from University of Mysore.
Head Mistress Anitha Mary recalled KBG’s genuine interest in student activities and exhibitions, while Treasurer Pattamada Charmana described him as “a fighter whose contributions are irreplaceable.”
Administrator Cauvery and Chairperson Seethamma acknowledged his mentorship, intellect and community reach.
Kannada teacher Hamsamati read a commemorative poem in KBG’s honour.
President Belliappa concluded the ceremony by sharing a condolence message received from the Prime Minister’s Office.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / July 31st, 2025
More than 95 lakh tourists visited the hilly district of Kodagu during the last two and a half years.
According to information provided by officials of the Tourism Department at a recent meeting of the Kodagu District Tourism Development Committee, the district had recorded 43.69 lakh tourists in 2023 and 45.72 lakh in 2024.
Sharing these numbers, Anita Bhaskar, Deputy Director of Tourism, Madikeri, said that Kodagu accounted for 23 out of the 778 tourist destinations identified under the Karnataka Tourism Policy 2020-26.
The tourist destinations in Kodagu included Raja Seat, Madikeri Fort, Abbey Falls, Mandalpatti, Harangi Reservoir, Mallalli Falls, Iruppu Falls, Dubare, Chikkahole, General Thimmayya Museum, and Nagarhole National Park among others.
A request had been made to shift the Talacauvery-Bhagamandala temples from the list of tourist sites to the list of spiritual destinations, the official said.
A total of 2,300 homestays in Kodagu district had been registered online and certified. This is in addition to the 150 hotels and resorts operational in the district, out of which 53 are officially registered on the Tourism Department’s portal.
Mandalpatti
The scenic peaks of Mandalpatti have been selected for development through Public Private Partnership (PPP) under the One District One Destination scheme.
The Galibeedu Gram Panchayat had approved the infrastructure development at Mandalpatti with an allocation of ₹50 lakh. However, as Mandalpatti falls under the Forest Department, cooperation of the Department has been sought for the repair of roads and other related works, the official said.
Referring to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s announcement on development of water sports and adventure tourism in his Budget speech of 2024-25 , the official said that Harangi reservoir will be open for such activities under Jungle Lodges and Resorts (JLR), while rafting licenses had been granted for Dubare in Kushalnagar and Barpuhole in Ponnampet.
Ms. Bhaskar said that the Tourism Department had sought approval from the Lake Development Authority to float tenders for rafting, kayaking, canoeing, wind surfing, jet skiing, and water zorbing at Honnamana Kere, a tourist destination in Somwarpet taluk of Kodagu district, which already has attractions like hills and caves.
Children’s mini train
Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner of Kodagu Venkat Raja, who presided over the meeting, said steps will be taken to start a children’s mini train at Raja Seat after receiving a report from the engineers of South Western Railways.
He said that engineers from the Railways had already inspected the site and gathered details with regard to the proposal to start a children’s mini train.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> India> Karnataka / by The Hindu Bureau / July 31st, 2025
“This Too Shall Pass,” a debut poetry collection by Muskan Sufi, a young Kodagu student studying in Mysuru, has earned international recognition after being nominated for the prestigious Indie Authors Award 2025, held in memory of American poet Emily Dickinson. The book is now available for purchase online on Amazon.
Muskan Sufi, a student of English Literature and Psychology at St. Philomena’s College, Mysuru, hails from Virajpet in Kodagu and belongs to the Kodava Muslim community. Her literary achievement has drawn attention not only for its quality but also for the quiet determination that brought her recognition at a young age.
Published by the internationally acclaimed Bookleaf Publication, This Too Shall Pass was born out of Muskan’s participation in the publisher’s “21 Poems in 21 Days” challenge. She surpassed expectations by writing more than 28 poems, which resulted in a 50-page collection of emotionally rich, thought-provoking verse.
Her poems explore themes of pain, healing, nature, death, and the complexities of human emotion. With modern and socially conscious subjects, Muskan’s writing brings to life the inner turbulence of individuals and the beauty of life’s fleeting moments. She uses simple yet powerful language, aiming to connect souls and provide hope to those facing life’s darkest times.
Thousands of poets participate in Bookleaf’s global poetry initiatives, and the top entries are selected for book publication and nomination to the Indie Authors Award. Muskan’s nomination has created a ripple in the English literary community, marking a proud moment for the Kodava Muslim community.
Expressing her joy, Muskan said, “I joined the challenge after coming across the campaign on social media. I’ve always loved writing English poetry, but I never imagined my poems would be published or nominated for such a prestigious award. It’s given me great motivation to pursue more literary work.”
Muskan is the daughter of Duddiyanda H. Sufi and Masuda Sufi, who head the DHS Group of Companies in Virajpet. Her father also serves as the president of the Kodava Muslim Association (KMA).
Muskan’s poetry book, This Too Shall Pass, is now available for purchase on Amazon.
source: http://www.hindustangazette.com / The Hindustan Gazette / Home> News> Latest News / by The Hindustan Gazette / pix:kannada.hindustangazette.com / July 21st, 2025
The Suttur Mutt has deeply condoled the passing of K.B. Ganapathy, Founder-Editor of Star of Mysore and Mysuru Mithra. In his condolence message, Suttur Seer Sri Shivarathri Deshikendra Swamiji recalled that Ganapathy was originally an Advocate who practised at the Karnataka High Court and Civil Courts.
“Driven by a deep interest in journalism, Ganapathy left his legal profession and worked for The Free Press Journal and The Indian Express for several years. He later founded the English eveninger Star of Mysore in 1978 and the Kannada morning daily Mysuru Mithra in 1980, becoming the Founder-Editor of both newspapers. These publications quickly gained popularity for their in-depth reporting on local issues affecting Mysuru and surrounding districts, the Swamiji added.
“Ganapathy wrote thought- provoking editorials and book reviews, often highlighting social shortcomings. He also served the society in many capacities — as a Member of the Karnataka Media Academy, President of Mysuru District Journalists Association, Chairman of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan (BVB) and Vice-President of Kodava Samaja. He actively participated in relief efforts through Mysuru Nagaraikara Vedike, extending help to Tsunami victims in Tamil Nadu and others affected by natural disasters,” the Seer said.
Sri Deshikendra Swamiji further noted that Ganapathy authored four books in Kannada — ‘Adarshavadi’, ‘Kodagina Mele Shilubeya Neralu’, ‘Choomantra’ and ‘Shivajiya Khadga’ — and seven in English. “His book ‘Life and Times’, which reflects on life, literature, religion, spiritualism and personalities, stands out as a significant work. His recent book ‘The Hidden Life of a Yogi’ was released during the 9th edition of the Mysuru Literature Festival-2025. His popular Abracadabra column in Star of Mysore and its translated versions in Mysuru Mithra were widely read and appreciated. He received numerous accolades, including the Rajyotsava Award and an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Mysore,” the Seer added.
“His demise is a great loss to society and the field of journalism. May the Almighty grant strength to his family, relatives and well-wishers to bear this loss. We pray for his soul to rest in peace,” the Seer said.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News> Top Stories / July 14th, 2025
K.B. Ganapathy served as the Chairman of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan (BVB), Mysuru Kendra. He has also served as its Vice-Chairman; Former Vice-President of Kodava Samaja, Mysuru; Former Vice-President of Mysore District Journalists Association (MDJA) and Member of Karnataka Patrika Akademi 1993-1995.
Fund raising
1. Funds were raised for the victims of the Kargil war in 1999.
2. Funds for the Gujarat earthquake in 2001 were raised by collecting about Rs. 12 lakh with the help of Rotary Mysore.
3. Collected Rs. 3.80 lakh as relief funds in association with Rotary Mysore for the earthquake victims of Latur district in Maharashtra in 2003.
4. Star of Mysore collected Rs. 74 lakh from various organisations and handed it over to the Mysore Citizens Forum (MCF) to be distributed to those who lost their lands and homes in the Tsunami that struck Tamil Nadu in 2004.
5. Star of Mysore has been giving monthly financial help to the nursing home being run by Little Sisters of the Poor and the rehabilitation centre for the mentally challenged being maintained by Mother Teresa Mission Charities in Bannimantap, and also presenting Rs. 10,000 annually to Deena Bandhu Charitable Trust to be distributed among talented children.
6. Star of Mysore also collected Rs. 7.5 lakh for successful surgery for a hearing-impaired child for a Cochlear implant.
7. Among other services, the company instituted the ‘Star of Mysore Silver Jubilee Endowment Medal’ at the University of Mysore. The gold medal is awarded to the candidate who has passed the MA Exam in Journalism by securing the highest marks in the entire course (in all the papers). The candidate, however, must have studied in the English Medium.
DEVELOPMENT OF SCHOOLS
1. Adoption of Government Kannada-Urdu High School in HUDCO Colony in Bannimantap and constructing separate toilets for boys, girls and teachers at the school and compound for the school.
2. As a patron of Kodagu Model School in Vidyashankara Layout, which is a lower-middle-class area, Ganapathy personally raised over Rs. 40 lakh donations and also contributed substantially to its development.
3. Star of Mysore has raised money to build infrastructure for other schools, too.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News> Top Stories / July 13th, 2025
and Publisher of STAR OF MYSORE & MYSURU MITHRA Newspapers
Dr. Kalyatanda B. Ganapathy, the former Chairman & Managing Director (CMD) and Editor-in-Chief of Star of Mysore English Evening Daily and Mysuru Mithra Kannada Morning Daily of Mysuru, published by Academy Newspapers Pvt. Ltd., Bannimantap, Mysuru, passed away at the age of 85 in Mysuru today (July 13, 2025).
Mysuru city’s largest circulated and popular evening newspaper, Star of Mysore, was founded by K.B. Ganapathy and late C.P. Chinnappa in 1978. The Kannada morning regional newspaper Mysuru Mithra, a sister concern of Star of Mysore, was founded in 1980 and is equally popular, covering five districts — Mysuru, Mandya, Hassan, Chamarajanagar and Kodagu.
K.B. Ganapathy with C.P. Chinnappa, with whom he established Academy Press in 1975 and launched Star of Mysore in 1978.
Born on 27.12.1939 to K.A. Bopaiah and K.B. Muthavva (Baby) in Coorg (Kodagu), K.B. Ganapathy is the second of the four siblings. A native of Kunjila (Kakkabbe) village in North Kodagu, his father was a school teacher belonging to the Kalyatanda family, a Kodava clan.
Ganapathy was a Bachelor of Arts and Law and had a Diploma in Journalism from Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan (BVB), Bombay. He practised as an advocate at the Karnataka High Court and the Civil Courts in Bengaluru from 1961 to 1964.
After being a trainee-junior lawyer for four years at a senior advocate’s office in Bengaluru, he wanted to pursue journalism, which he was inclined towards. So he moved to Bombay to study journalism at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan.
After he got his diploma, he interviewed with T.J.S. George, the doyen of journalism, who was then the Assistant Editor of Free Press Journal, who gave Ganapathy his first job as a Sub-Editor.
Ganapathy worked as a Journalist (Reporter and Sub-Editor) in Free Press Journal and Indian Express, Bombay, till 1970 and then established his advertising agency, ‘Sunbeam Advertising’, Pune, in 1970.
A star was born
After marriage, in 1976, he shifted to Mysuru because his wife K.K. Devamma (Ralie Ganapathy) was a Government College lecturer, and his family members were living in Mysuru. Soon, he ventured to do what he always loved — Journalism. Thus, in 1978, Star of Mysore was born.
Today, 48 years later, Star of Mysore, an evening English newspaper of Mysuru city, with a population of about a million, is the largest circulated newspaper with over a lakh readership. Two years after establishing Star of Mysore, in 1980, Ganapathy recognised the importance of journalism in the local language and started a local Kannada morning paper called Mysuru Mithra.
K.B. Ganapathy in his chamber at Star of Mysore office.
Today, this Kannada paper has gone from being a local paper to a regional paper covering five districts with a readership of over 2.5 lakh.
Even though in the 1970s Mysuru had many newspapers, Star of Mysore stood out for its factual reports and in-depth coverage. To add, Ganapathy wrote two columns every other day called Abracadabra and Hocus-Pocus, which helped popularise the paper.
These columns were enlightening, informative, risque and soon captured the attention and imagination of Mysureans. Ganapathy, after 48 years, continued to write his column. His last two Abracadabras were on the global conflict — ‘Pondering over wars and warmongers of the world!’ published on June 19 and ‘A miracle in Jerusalem’ on June 21, 2025.
Three Wordsmiths: R.K. Narayan and N. Ram insisted that K.B. Ganapathy sit in the middle flanked by these patron giants of the literary world
Attention to reportage, visual appeal
It is noteworthy that Star of Mysore is probably the country’s only evening subscribed English newspaper. Ganapathy achieved this by building a strong distribution network while paying attention to reportage, an endeavour in which many national newspapers failed.
Ganapathy did three unique things in local journalism. First, he wanted the newspaper to stand out visually. To achieve this, he chose to print Star of Mysore in a unique size — Berliner. Even though this newspaper size costs more money to publish, he felt it was essential for recall. Today, Star of Mysore is the only Berliner- sized newspaper in the country.
The next was his approach to journalism and public participation. Before the term ‘citizen journalist’ was coined, Ganapathy in the 1980s encouraged Mysureans, be it teachers, students or industrialists, to write. Be it a letter to the editor or even articles, everyone was encouraged.
Even today, this tradition continues with columnists like Dr. Javeed Nayeem, Sadhguru, Devdutt Pattanaik, Dr. Balasubramaniam and Gouri Satya.
Many of the young journalists and writers of Star of Mysore from the 1980s-90s did not have a journalism degree, yet they were employed at Star of Mysore and Mysuru Mithra. Ganapathy felt that a ‘nose for news’, a ‘passion for storytelling’ and a ‘sense of journalistic purpose’ were more important than a degree in journalism.
Today, most of these ‘alumni’ of SOM and MM as the two newspapers are fondly abbreviated, are in senior positions in other national media houses.
Some of them are late Girish Nikam (Rajya Sabha TV), late Niranjan Nikam (Deccan Herald), Krishna Prasad (former Editor of Outlook Magazine), Chetan Krishnaswamy (Formerly with The Week Magazine), H.R. Ranganath (former editor of Kannada Prabha and now the Editor-in-Chief, Public TV), Manu Aiyappa (The Times of India), etc.
Shaking hands with a replica of noted cartoonist R.K. Laxman’s ‘The Common Man.’
Passion for journalism
In a way, with his passion for journalism, Ganapathy turned his two newspapers into a kind of school for journalism, producing more practising and successful journalists than the journalism schools in Mysuru.
Over the years, both newspapers have also patronised celebrated thinkers and writers such as T.J.S. George, Maneka Gandhi, Devdutt Pattanaik, Sadhguru, to name a few.
With his two newspapers, Ganapathy created awareness among the people of Mysuru city about the usefulness and impact of an influential local evening newspaper on the community.
When a citizen is in trouble due to poor service by various Government or quasi-Government agencies or the local bodies, Star of Mysore and Mysuru Mithra are their voice for justice. More importantly, he showed that local journalism could be influential and have an impact in creating a good city, as it brings awareness among the citizenry, who then hold their leaders accountable for the health of their city.
UoM Honorary Doctorate to Dr. K.B. Ganapathy.
Courage and determination
Speaking about Star of Mysore, late Union Minister H.N. Ananth Kumar had said, “If there is a torch-bearer in this part of the country that always stood for liberty and equality, it is Star of Mysore.” He then added, “Ganapathy always wages a silent war with the establishment and in the process, he and his family faced many threats and attacks. This is easier said than done. I salute his courage and determination.”
The combination of an entrepreneur-journalist is scarce, and Ganapathy has achieved a rare feat by being successful as both. Today, his newspapers have become household names, and with their online edition, they have truly become the conduit that connects Mysureans to Mysuru and Mysureans to their leaders.
No wonder late Ananth Kumar stated, “Star of Mysore is now addressed in the same breath as Mysore Pak and Mysooru Mallige. I have seen eveningers like Mid-Day in Mumbai and Bengaluru. But in this part of the country, Star of Mysore has earned its unique and respectful place in the hearts of its readers.”
Mysuru has been better off for having these two newspapers because using the two newspapers, Ganapathy took up numerous causes for the city of Mysuru and Mysureans, such as — Save Kukkarahalli Lake, Campaign against Chamalapura Power Plant, Campaign to Save Heritage buildings, Campaign for Tree Protection, Strived and succeeded in converting noted novelist R.K. Narayan’s house in Yadavagiri into a Museum, supporting Mysore Grahakara Parishat (MGP), an NGO, in its activities, to name a few.
Concern for Mysuru
Star of Mysore’s major article on Rare Materials Plant (RMP), the Uranium Unit of the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) in Yelwal, which the local villagers called ‘Bomb Factory’, had brought the top official of Atomic Energy from Bombay to Mysuru to allay fears of the Mysureans.
This article was written by one Saketh Rajan (late), a young, intelligent student. The official held a press meet, assuring that there was no danger of ‘radiation leak’ or of any kind, and all measures for absolute safety and security are taken care of.
Only after this, other NGOs came on the scene demanding closure of this ‘bomb factory’ or revealing the safety measures taken in the event of accidents in the unit.
Star of Mysore and Mysuru Mithra head offices in Bannimantap.
Now, the company, Academy Newspapers Pvt. Ltd., under which the two newspapers are published, employs many people apart from providing part-time jobs and serving over 4 lakh Mysureans.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Feature Articles> Top Stories / July 13th, 2025
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