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This was the letter late C. Srikantan, owner of Lakshmi Talkies, who was a member of Mysore Race Club (MRC) and also a golfer, wrote to MRC members and all golf players in 1989 after noticing the overbearing conduct of Jayachamaraja Wadiyar Golf Club (JWGC) formed in the year 1985.
In retrospect, we can say, Srikantan has indeed been vindicated in his perception and opinion in the matter of the MoU with the JWGC. He could see the danger within four years of MRC signing the ominous MoU with the JWGC. In this letter, it may be noted that nowhere Srikantan has mentioned the name of JWGC but an inference can easily be made by a careful reader.
It may be mentioned that in 1995 - 96 the MRC Golf Course was upgraded to almost international standards with the Central government giving Rs. 37.5 lakh, thanks to Mr. Chiranjeevi Singh IAS of Karnataka cadre, who was at the Centre then. Though as per MoU it was not binding for MRC to spend on the course, it did contribute Rs. 4.5 lakh, along with JWGC.
The reason for the Central government giving such a huge amount for upgrading MRC Golf Course was to encourage golf playing tourists to avail the facility. Unfortunately, the MRC was unable to help the tourists in this regard as the Golf Course became captive in the hands of JWGC. There were complaints that when MRC directed the tourists to JWGC, the response was discouraging in many ways. — Editor
TO WHOMSOEVER IT MAY CONCERN
Golf Course in the city of Mysore:
The Golf Course in the City of Mysore belongs to The Mysore Race Club Limited, Race Course Road, Mysore – 570 010.
The immovable property of the Mysore Race Club Limited, Mysore, including the Golf Course thereon, belongs to the Government of Karnataka who have leased the property to the Mysore Race Club Ltd., Mysore.
The Golf Course was once maintained and run by the H. H. The Maharaja late Jayachamarajendra Wadiyar along with the Mysore Sports Club of which HH The Maharaja was the Chief Patron. The Members of the Mysore Sports Club had the playing facility to play Golf.
The avowed object and the aspirations of the revered Maharaja was that the facility for playing Golf should be given not only to the members of the Mysore Sports Club, Mysore, but also to any one who wanted to play Golf in the city of Mysore irrespective of who maintains and manages the Golf Course in the city of Mysore.
As a keen golfer and a great sportsman, H. H. The Maharaja late Jayachamarajendra Wadiyar had even donated one of His Highness’ very valuable Golf Sets with a set of Golf Balls, keeping them in the then Golf Hut with the then one Caddy Master Mr. Sam directing him to lend the Golf Set and Golf Balls to any one who wanted to play Golf and also coach them if they wanted coaching in Golf. The Golf Set and Set of Golf Balls were always available in the Golf Hut for any one aspiring to play Golf.
I had the rare good fortune and privilege of meeting H. H. The Maharaja late Jayachamarajendra Wadiyar on many occasions and for the last time in the Bangalore Palace, Bangalore, just before the Maharaja passed away. During the last propitious meeting, the Maharaja enquired about the sports activities in the city of Mysore and expressed a desire that Golf should be promoted in the city of Mysore and put the Golf Course in the city of Mysore on the International Map remembering the Festival of Tennis (1953) conducted in the city of Mysore under His Highness' patronage when R. Krishnan and others of All India - fame participated. As such, the playing facilities for playing Golf in the city of Mysore is in more than one way a munificent donation by H. H. The Maharaja late Jayachamarajendra Wadiyar for the Golfers of the World who want to play Golf in the city of Mysore.
It is not necessary for any one who wants to play Golf to become a member of any Club and not even Mysore Race Club Ltd., Mysore, for utilizing the Golf Course as per the desires of H. H. The Maharaja Late Jayachamarajendra Wadiyar followed by Late F. K. Irani who was the President of the Mysore Sports Club, the Chairman of the Mysore Race Club Limited, Mysore and a founder-member of the Addicts Golfing Society of Southern India along with the Maharaja, a patron of the Society.
Unfortunately, some vested interest that appears to be more loyal than the king himself are spreading a canard and coming in the way of the great aspirations and great ideals of a great Maharaja, who was a great Sportsman and a keen Golfer.
No one other than the Mysore Race Club Limited, Mysore, has any right to collect any Green Fee, subscription and donation from any one who wants to play Golf utilizing the playing facilities of the Golf course in the City of Mysore which belongs to the Mysore Race Club Limited, Race Course Road, Mysore.
I have had reservations all these years in writing and circulating the above history of the Golf Course in the City of Mysore. But it was and is a moment of history, though unrecorded. The Members and the honourable gentlemen, who were present on many memorable Golfing occasions with the Maharaja, who knew about the desires and wishes of the Maharaja, have diminished and rediminishing. Hence, this attempt on my part is to give the timely information to fellow Golfers who may or may not know the history of the Golf Course in the city of Mysore and the monumental gift endowed by the Maharaja Late Jayachamarajendra Wadiyar for the Golfers of the World.
— Golfingly Yours and Sincerely,
C. Srikantan
[Past Secretary General
H. H. The Maharaja Jayachamarajendra Wadiyar Memorial Golf Tournaments;
Past Steward, Member, the Mysore Race Club Limited, Mysore;
"Mahalakshmi"
965, Lakshmipuram
Mysore - 570 004
Dated: 23rd November, 1989
A bed - time story for children:
The Arab and His Camel:
ONE cold night, as an Arab sat in his tent, a camel thrust the flap of the tent aside, and looked in.
"I pray thee, master," he said, "let me put my head within the tent, for it is cold without."
"By all means, and welcome," said the Arab; and the camel stretched his head into the tent.
"If I might but warm my neck, also," he said, presently.
"Put your neck inside," said the Arab. Soon the Camel, who had been turning his head from side to side, said again:—
"It will take but little more room if I put my fore legs within the tent. It is difficult standing without."
"You may also put your fore legs within," said the Arab, moving a little to make room, for the tent was very small.
"May I not stand wholly within?" asked the Camel, finally. "I keep the tent open by standing as I do."
"Yes, yes," said the Arab. "I will have pity on you as well as on myself. Come wholly inside."
So the Camel came forward and crowded into the tent. But the tent was too small for both.
"I think," said the Camel, "that there is not room for both of us here. It will be best for you to stand outside, as you are the smaller; there will then be room enough for me."
And with that he pushed the Arab a little, who made haste to get outside the tent.
Moral:
It is a wise rule to resist the beginnings of evil.
Courtesy: Star of Mysore
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