Badaganadu Balaga, Mysore

The most important event of the month of February was the Annual Day Celebration on 4^th February 2007 at the Rotary West Auditorium with an Invocation of Lord's Blessings by Smt. Annapurna Gundappa. Sri K.V.Murthy, an Industrialist, Rotarian and Head of Nadabrahma Sangeetha Sabha was the Chief Guest and he spoke appreciatively of the broadmindedness of the Balaga in honouring non-Badaganadu people of the Society as well. Being himself an excellent organizer and fundraiser, he gave some useful tips as to how go about raising funds for the building that is being planned. He implored each of the 600 odd members of the Balaga to get actively involved in this venture by donating at least Rs. 1000, and on his part, spontaneously contributed Rs. 5000, for which we are immensely grateful.

Besides Sri Murthy, we also had the pleasure of having on the dais Sri K.Raghuram, President of the Karnataka Branch of the All India Brahmana Mahasabha, who was all praise for the work done by the Balaga and promised help in the fund-raising drive by spreading the message to all members of his organization.

Sri Nagesh N.S., a student admitted this year to the Electronics and Communication Branch at the National Institute of Engineering (NIE) with the highest CET rank of 540, received the Award instituted by the family members of our former President Late Sri A.H.Gopal Rao.

Our Secretary, Sri Shankar Rao was felicitated on his having won many prizes and awards for his athletic abilities, Dr. M.A.Ravishankar for his receiving the Young Scientist Award, and Sri M.V.Ravishankar on his being appointed as the Chairman of the prestigious Mysore Paints and Varnishes Company, one of the few profit-making Karnataka Government Undertakings.

Entertainment for the evening was provided by the Members with :

Gamaka Vaachana, by Smt. Vasantha Venkatesh, who also compeered the entire function in chaste Kannada

Group Singing, by Smts. Vasantha Venkatesh, Vijaya Narayana Rao, Visalakshi Shankaranarayana, Parimala Krishna Murthy, Manu Seetharam

Bharata Natyam by Kumari Navya Seetharam, and

Haasya Chatakis by Sri Vijayendra.

Of the five Sahasrachandradarshakas (with 1000 Full-moon sightings in their 80+ years age!) who had been identified for this year's felicitations, only three could attend, our present President Sri G.S.Subrahamanyam being one of them! Another gentleman thus honoured, Sri. T.S.Nagaraja Rao,was gracious enough to offer his contribution of Rs. 2000 to the Building Fund, which was indeed so nice of him. Of the remaining three, only Sri N.C.Nagaraj and Sri B.R.Subba Rao could participate, the latter even contributing Rs. 1000 to the Building Fund. Sri G.N.K.Sastry, who was unwell, was felicitated later at his residence. The Balaga is thankful to all of them for their kind gesture.

A few photographs taken on this occasion may be seen in the photo gallery.