Karnataka   

Flower seller to publisher to politician

‘Abhiruchi’ Ganesh

MYSORE: While actors, directors and software engineers are among those who are contesting in the Assembly elections, there is also a young publisher who has locked horns with professional politicians in Narasimharaja Assembly Constituency. Sarvodaya Karnataka Paksha (SKP) has fielded Ganesh in Narasimaharaja constituency. Ganesh’s publication house “Abhiruchi” publishes Kannada works.

Popularly known as “Abhiruchi Ganesh” in literary circles, hehas been involved in various progressive movements that Mysore has witnessed over the years.

Mr. Ganesh is a native of Veeranagere in the city, which was once famous for flower cultivation. His parents, Ankappa and Puttanarasamma, were roadside flower sellers. He managed to pay for his education by continuing his father’s business. Noted Kannada publisher D.V.K. Murthy spotted Mr. Ganesh in 1994 and offered him a job of selling books. He used to sell the books travelling on a bicycle.

Venerated Kannada Science writer and the then Chairman of Kannada Book Authority (KBA) G.T. Narayana Rao helped him open a book shop. Mr. Ganesh has never looked back after that.

He started “Abhiruchi” publishing house in 1998 and has published more than 200 books. “Mysore Nurinnuru Varshagala Hinde” which was published by “Abhiruchi” brought him fame in literary circles.

Asked what had motivated him to contest in the elections, Mr. Ganesh said: “Apoorna Krantiya Kathe”, a work by D.S. Nagabhushan. He decided to enter the fray and approached SKP president Devanuru Mahadeva who allotted him a party ticket. He said that contesting the elections was part of his social commitment. “As the educated class is uninterested in politics, I thought it was my responsibility to cleanse the system by entering politics”. His friends and well-wishers paid the deposit for him to contest in the elections. Intellectuals, writers and theatre personalities are supporting him.

Despite being from the Naik community and contesting from Narasimharaja constituency which has a large number of people belonging to the community, he said he did not want to mix politics with caste.

“I do not believe in mixing literature and caste with politics. I don’t want people to elect me because of my caste. They have to elect me on the basis of my ability to serve them,” he said.

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