'Convert 'Sunny Side' into a memorial'

Forum members urge authorities to shift RTO office in Madikeri

The issue of converting ‘Sunny Side,' ancestral house of General Thimmaiah in Madikeri, into a memorial to perpetuate the memory of one of the greatest generals the country, was once again raised by the Field Marshal Cariappa and General Thimmaiah Forum office-bearers here on Sunday.

The forum members staged a protest after the programme organised by the district administration, to remember 107th birth anniversary of General Thimmaiah.

The office-bearers urged the district administration to shift RTO office from Sunny Side to the newly constructed premises. They shoulted slogans like ‘quit Sunny Side.’ 

Forum convener Major (retd) B A Nanjappa said that the ancestral house of General Thimmaiah is in deplorable condition. The tiles of the house has started falling. The walls have become weak. There is a need to conserve the building.”

The RTO office should be shifted to the new building constructed on Abbey Falls road at a cost of Rs four to five crore. The citizens of Kodagu district should help in converting ‘Sunny side’ into a memorial.

When former president Abdul Kalam had visited Kodagu in the past, he had asked to convert the building into a memorial.

Later, when B S Yeddyurappa was chief minister, a sum of Rs one crore was earmarked for converting Sunny Side into a memorial. However, all these efforts were of not much use in conserving the building,” he said.

Forum president Col (retd) K C Subbaiah, Secretary Ulliyada M Poovaiah, members Raja Madappa, P Venu Appanna, Thammu Poovaiah and others were present.