Karnataka - Bangalore

Aspire to be leaders, Advani urges people

— Photo: Sampath Kumar G.P.

A SPECIAL PLACE: Chief Mentor of Infosys Technologies N.R. Narayana Murthy (second from left) releasing Kannada version of L.K. Advani’s book, ‘My Country My Life’, in Bangalore on Tuesday. Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa (second from right) and Kamala Advani (right) are seen.

BANGALORE: Kannada version of the book My Country My Life, authored by the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha and senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader L.K. Advani, was released by the Infosys Chief Mentor N.R. Narayana Murthy, at Banquet Hall, Vidhana Soudha, on Tuesday.

Mr. Advani, who has a special love for Bangalore, because of his association with the city since the days of Emergency, expressed his happiness over the release of his book in Kannada after November 1, as it coincided with the grant of classical language status to Kannada.

As a special gesture, Mr. Advani presented copies of the book to M.N. Venkatachalaiah, former Chief Justice of India; G.S. Shivarudrappa, poet laureate; Ambareesh, Congress leader and former Union Minister; V.S. Malimath, former Chief Justice of Kerala High Court; M. Ramakrishna, former Chief Justice of Jammu and Kashmir High Court; N. Santhosh Hegde, Lokayukta; M. Chidananda Murthy, Kannada linguist; K. Suryanarayana, chief of the Rastreeya Swayamsevak Sangh, State unit; Anil Kumble, cricketer; Devi Shetty, managing director of Narayana Hrudayalaya; Vishnuvardhan and Bharati Vishnuvardhan, actors, and T.N. Sitaram, TV serial producer.

The BJP leader regretted that there was decline in values in all fields, including education and health and it was at its lowest ebb in politics.

Agreeing with Mr. Narayana Murthy that the people should be optimistic and make efforts to achieve higher goals, Mr. Advani wanted them to develop leadership qualities.

Mr. Advani said they could look to the past as well as recent achievements made by Indians in sports, medicine, industry and financial sectors. They need not be apologetic about their rich culture, he added.

Agreeing with Mr. Murthy, he said the fruits of development should be taken to the poor in rural areas, who should be able to lead a happy life. Optimism, he said, was a must for a country to progress, but the people should have dedication in their mission, like during the days of freedom struggle. There could be no short cut to success, even in politics, he added.

Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa, who presided over the function and the former Union Minister and MP H.N. Ananth Kumar, said the country needed the leadership of Mr. Advani to make it the century of India.

Visvesvar Bhat, journalist, who translated the book, spoke.

Kamala Advani, Mr. Advani`s wife, D.V. Sadananda Gowda, BJP State unit president, and Suresh Shah, chairman of Sapna Book House, which published the book, were present.

Prathibha Advani, daughter of Mr. Advani, proposed a vote of thanks.

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