by K. Vijaya Kumar, Former Jt. Director of Information & Publicity
He was indeed a unique personality in Mysore, known to people of all strata — be they vegetable vendors in Devaraja Market, traders in Santhepet, politicians, Chief Ministers, VIPs in all fields all over, Ramanna was fondly identified by them as their close friend. Nobody knows exactly why or how he migrated to Mysore from Mangalore at a very young age. He had little lame in one leg from child birth, but it never deterred him in his very active life.
I am told he started life here mingling with freedom fighters of thirties and showed his speaking talent in freedom movement by his early speeches in Subbarayanakere park. Thus he came in close contact with Gandhians H.C. Dasappa, Yashodharamma and other leaders of that time. Though he had no formal education, he ventured to start a small Kannada Daily ‘Vijaya’ on India’s Independence Aug.15, 1947.
He had contacts with our family as my grandfather was a freedom fighter. That is how I came under his influence in 1958-60 starting my career in his Daily as a graduate studying journalism for my degree. But it is a different story how he turned me to be more a Public Relations (PR) man than to be a journalist.
K.S. Bhagawan, known for his rational thinking and writing, who met me during his walk at Manasagangotri, accompanied by a security guard provided by Police, recalled his working in ‘Vijaya’ from 1963 to 1965 remembering A. Ramanna.
By then, Ramanna’s stature had grown so much he was sought by people for help, recommendation though he was not holding any office. But he was a member of Trade Union, member of Housing Board, Coffee Board etc. I had seen how even Ministers would visit him in his small ‘Vijaya’ office behind Dhanvantri Main Road. And they wanted the company of Ramanna during their visits to Mangalore. Chief Minister Kengal Hanumanthaiah was so close to him that he wanted Ramanna’s company during all his visits to Mysore.
It was Ramanna who made me to join the Information Department and I remember how he made my bachelor life comfortable in Mangalore when I was posted there in 1964 by visiting Mangalore and getting me accommodation in Bunts Hostel.
Though Ramanna was a bachelor, he had adopted a family from Mangalore and also established a house for them. He looked after their children growing — a son K.J. Kumar who became a film journalist and later edited ‘Vijaya’; daughter Pramila became a nominated member of Mysore City Corporation. I still remember how Ramanna celebrated her marriage at Nanjaraja Bahaddur Choultry inviting several thousands of people.
Ramanna had continuous contacts with Mangalore and Bunts community. So much so, he had even started a Bunts Hostel in Mysore in the name of A.B. Shetty, a stalwart figure of South Canara. He had also secured a site for the hostel building.
Pejawar Swamiji and Kengal at his 60th birthday: S. Krishna, a former Corporator (son of late A. Shivanna, Banana merchant, who was very close to Ramanna) informs me that his father had arranged Ramanna’s 60th birthday at Madhu Nivas in Gandhi Square, in co-operation with Ramadas Bhat of that Hotel which was attended by Sri Vishwesha Theertha Swamiji of Pejawar Mutt and Kengal Hanumanthaiah.
Close contact with Adichunchanagiri Mutt: Eighty-eight-year-old S. Bhyrappa, a very senior advocate, recalls his close association with Ramanna describing him as a fearless person, sincere, straightforward, loyal, helpful and never had enmity with others. He particularly remembered Ramanna’s interest in the growth of Adichunchanagiri Mutt since its beginning and his service to the Mutt till his death.
His contribution with T.S. Subbanna for Sarvajanika Hostel: R. Vasudeva Murthy (RV), 89, President of Mahajana Education Society, going back to his memory as a student of Central College, Bangalore, describes how he came in contact with Ramanna who knew some office-bearers of All India Student Congress and himself (RV) was the Treasurer of that Congress. From then on, his contacts with him continued when he came down to Mysore after his education. It was at that time, Ramanna introduced his close associate T.S. Subbanna to Vasudeva Murthy. Subbanna, a bachelor and a Gandhian to the core, was selfless, humble and dedicated his life for welfare of poor students.
Since then, the young Vasudeva Murthy supported them in their noble cause of providing food and shelter to poor students through Sarvajanika Hostel in Vidyaranyapuram which Subbanna had started in 1937 in a small structure.
G.H. Nayak, a known literary critique, who was a resident of the Hostel in later years, described, “it is difficult to believe that a person like Subbanna lived in their midst.” He also recalls that U.R. Anantha Murthy was also a boarder of the Hostel among many others who had come up in their life.
With the tireless efforts of Subbanna and Ramanna with Vasudeva Murthy and a host of others, the present building Sarvajanika Vidyarthi Nilaya was inaugurated on 18.4.1954 by no lesser person than Maharaja Jayachamaraja Wadiyar. The Foundation for the hostel building was laid by the then Mysore Government first Ministry Cabinet Minister H.C.Dasappa on 16.2.1951.
The photo above from Vasudeva Murthy’s album speaks of the dignitaries present on the occasion: To the left of Maharaja — H.M. Chennabasappa; young Vasudeva Murthy and A. Ramanna.
Behind Maharaja: Kengal Hanumanthaiah.
To the right of Maharaja: One Sakamma, who donated Rs. 25,000 for the hostel building.
Behind her: B.V. Banumaiah of Banumaiah Educational Institutions.
[G.H. Nayak recalls that T.S. Subbanna never wanted publicity nor his photo. Hence, there is no photo of his anywhere even with the Maharaja Jayachamaraja Wadiyar above.]
e-mail: kumarkv59@gmail.com
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Feature Articles / Sunday – February 07th, 2016