It was an avalanche of felicitations for me after November 1. On November 2, I returned from Bangalore richer by Rs. One lakh and 20 gram of gold. Till last year, the reward money was a pittance. Many told me that I got the award rather late in life. But in retrospect, there is no cause for regret. So thank you Sarkar! And since then, not a day was spent without some individuals or organisations felicitating me, either in our office at Bannimantap or at a function outside.

I must have collected in the process hundreds of petas and shawls and a variety of mementoes and garlands, except for a garland of currency notes. One garland was so heavy for my gentle nape; it had to be supported from behind by two persons. I asked the group leader how much he had paid for the garland. He told me a figure, which made me feel uncomfortable Rs. 2,000. I asked them not to squander money this way and instead give it to some charity or orphanage.

In fact, another group came along with some blind and mute students, gave me a nice rose garland, fruits and a shawl. The students were led by an NGO. Much as I didn’t like their spending money on these items to felicitate me, I could not help it either for fear that my refusal might hurt their feelings. Therefore, as if to atone for my guilt feeling, I gave Rs.2,000 to the person from NGO and requested him to distribute sweets to all the inmates of that hostel, numbering about 60. Similar situations were many. I was surprised to find people whom I do not know, belonging to different castes, communities and denominations, offering their felicitations. There was so much of innocence and there was so much of love, I wonder if I can ever repay this debt of gratitude to these many thousands of people.

I know a large number of them did not expect anything in return from me and for sure they will have nothing in future also to expect from me. They have simply loved Mysooru Mithra and the Choomantra column, so also my columns in Star of Mysore that I have been writing for the past 30 years. That written words have as much power and influence as the spoken words, is indeed true as I know from my experience. Otherwise, religions of the world, with their respective holy books, could not have influenced their followers to the point of mesmerising them that they are ready to give up their life defending their religion. Same is the power of speech, not only of Saints and Prophets but also of demagogues who become political leaders and dictators.

Some of my friends and beloved readers have expressed their surprise and unhappiness at the frequent publication of group photographs with me wearing a peta and garland holding the fruit bowl or a memento looking like, well? In Mysooru Mithra almost daily and sometimes more than one picture, as also in Star of Mysore, where space is as precious as it could be. Honestly, I myself feel embarrassed and turn my eyes away from those pages when I see myself looking like a pretender to that felicitation.

But those who complain do not realise that it was not to please myself as much as it was to please those who spent their time and money in felicitating me, that those photographs are being published. I must confess my first complainant in this regard was my wife who has had similar experience in the past when I was similarly honoured by three prestigious organisations. She not only asked me not to bring all those items of felicitation - ritual home but requested me, like my other friends, to avoid publishing those photographs. Though I agreed to her first suggestion, I pleaded my inability to accede to her second request; at least till the end of November, the month of Rajyotsava celebrations.

I said to myself rather benignly and even condescendingly, "Well, Mr. Ganapathy, what are you going to lose if you spare some space in Mysooru Mithra, if it could please those who admired you and loved your style of journalism. Your fans!"

My inner voice, like that of Sonia Gandhi on a different occasion, said, "Go ahead and print those photographs if it makes those who are seen in the pictures a little happy. After all, it is happiness that we all seek at the end of the day. If in the process should I myself become a little embarrassed and unhappy, it doesn’t matter."

I do realise I am no icon to deserve that kind of adulation. But a thought crossed my mind about great icons in the film world like Rajnikanth, Amitabh Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan to name a few. I wonder what it might be for them everyday of the year to escape the ardour and adulation of millions of people not only in India but also in other parts of the world.

Wonder if a small fry like me could end up longing for some privacy, how much painful it could be for those great icons of the film world to protect their privacy. I think I should indeed count my blessings either way. In the meanwhile, let me thank everyone who congratulated me through telephone, e-mail and personal letters and felicitated me in person at my office and at public functions, for their warmth and love.

“Love means never having to say you're sorry” Erich Segal immortalised the words in “Love Story”, but in real life, a genuine "sorry" eases the bumps... So, I say sorry to those whom I disappointed by either refusing to be felicitated or by refusing to publish the photographs. On a lateral thought, I feel love also means never having to say “I thank you”. This is because, I have received a number of congratulatory e - mails, letters and cards and many of these gestures went without a “thank you” response from me, though some have been acknowledged.

And finally, my special thanks are due to Geeth Gaatha Chal team of city doctors, the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan Mysore chapter, Builders Association of India Mysore Chapter, Bangiya Samiti, Mysore, Kodava Samaja, Mysore and members of my own professional fraternity (Mysore District Journalists Association), for their special efforts in felicitating me.

Dhanyosmi.