JOIN USWhen President Pranab Mukherjee launches the centenary celebrations of the University of Mysore on July 27, he will be feted with the State’s articles of pride - a sandalwood artefact and a specially designed wrist watch from Hindustan Machine and Tools Limited, popularly known as HMT.
The centenary committee will gift the mementos - a bust of erstwhile ruler of Mysore Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar carved in sandalwood and a leather-strapped wrist watch with the logo of the university to the first citizen of India. Mukherjee is scheduled to launch the year-long celebrations at the Open Air Theatre at Manasagangotri at 3 pm. The 16-inch-tall bust of Nalwadi, the founder of the varsity, has been sculpted using five to six kg of sandalwood. The task had been entrusted to Ganesh, a local sculptor, a source said.
Busts of lesser height (eight inches) will be gifted to other dignitaries, that include Governor and Chancellor of the university Vajubhai Rudabhai Vala, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, former prime minister H D Deve Gowda, Higher Education Minister and pro-chancellor R V Deshpande and Revenue and district incharge Minister V Sreenivas Prasad.
An old photograph of Nalwadi wearing a turban was selected as the basis for the bust. It was based on the same photograph that the Mysuru City Corporation had created his bust earlier. Specially designed watches from HMT, Bengaluru, are ready to adorn the wrists of the VVIPs and VIPs taking part in the ceremony. For the President, a watch with white dial in Roman numerals, with the logo of the university and centenary year (1916-2016) printed on it will be presented. It will be quite an expensive one. Similar watches, but less expensive, will be presented to other dignitaries. It has been decided to gift similar watches to the faculty in commemoration of the centenary year. The varsity is spending not less than Rs 20 lakh on the mementos, that include busts and watches, alone, sources said.
Beginning from the centenary year celebrations, whenever a dignitary visits the varsity, he or she is likely to be gifted a sandalwood bust of Nalwadi. Prime Minister Narendra Modi - who is scheduled to inaugurate the Indian Science Congress in Mysuru in Jan - will be feted similarly.