Bhamy Shenoy writes to PM to Rename Mangaluru International Airport after U S Mallya

Bhamy Shenoy writes to PM to Rename Mangaluru International Airport after U S Mallya

• Bhamy V Shenoy (Grandson of U S Mallya) writes to PM Narendra Modi to Rename Mangaluru International Airport after U Srinivasa Mallya as “Ullal Srinivas Mallyta International Airport”.

Mangaluru: After Mangaluru’s Town Hall was renamed as “Kudmul Ranga Rao Purabhavana”, and for that matter, Jyothi Circle has been renamed as “Dr Ambedkar Circle”, furthermore, the circle near Nandigudde named as “Koti Chennaya Circle”, here we have yet another Mangalorean, born and brought up in Bantwal, in the outskirts of Mangaluru, presently residing in Mysuru, who has been very much keen in requesting PM Narendra Modi in considering changing Mangaluru International Airport in the name of U Srinivasa Mallya- this person happens to be the grandson of the elder brother of U Srinivas Mallya. Meet Bhamy V Shenoy who has sent the following letter to PM Modi, and the contents of the letter read as follows-

Dear Sri Modiji,

I am requesting you to rename Mangalore International Airport as Ullal Srinivas Mallya International Airport. Mangalore MP Nalin Kumar Kateel has already approached the government in this connection. Still, I wanted to write to you giving my reasons.

In one sense a tall leader like U S Mallya does not need any institute to be named to honor him. He is recognized as an architect of former Dakshina Kannada. Such projects like Bajpe Airport, All India Radio station, Mangalore Port, National Institute of Technology Karnataka (NITK), Surathkal, Railway line between Mangalore and Bengaluru, remind the people of his contribution. By naming the airport after U S Mallya, we are not only honoring him but also honor India’s civilizational value of remembering the good deeds of a person and showing our gratitude. It is high time that our country honors a great freedom fighter like U. S. Mallya when his own party of which he has served as General Secretary of All India Congress Committee has failed to honor him.

U Srinivas Mallya

There is another overriding reason for which I am making this suggestion of naming the airport in the name of U. S. Mallya. In today’s political environment it is not easy to find tall leaders of national stature who are prepared to work honestly for all sections of the society (real inclusiveness not in words, but in deeds) with a single-minded goal to work for India’s development and who sacrificed his wealth for freedom struggle. By honoring such a person you are presenting a role model for the present and future generation. India needs such role models. Much has been written about Mallya’s contribution to Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts, but his contribution to the nation as a leader with sterling qualities have not been properly projected. The nation does not know the critical role Mallya played in electing Lal Bahadur Shashtri as Prime Minister of India after Pandit Nehru.

By honoring a leader who was a member of constituent assembly, a person who was a close friend of Lal Bahadur Shashtri Kamaraj Nayar, etc, a “kingmaker” of Karnataka ( but he himself never held any ministerial position), and above all a person who downplayed caste and was liked by all sections, you will demonstrate to the youth of India that it is human qualities which are valued in India and not power or wealth. People of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi will always remember your large-heartedness of honoring of their most illustrious leader.

About Bhamy V Shenoy:

Originally from Bantwal (born and brought up), a graduate of IITM, and then got a Ph.D from the University of Houston, Shenoy worked in oil industry in different parts of the world, fought corruption in Georgia, Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan (former Soviet Union), started an NGO, Mysore Grahakara Parishat, a leading NGO of the city and have been writing articles for leading papers on oil to expose corruption in that sector.

Being the grandson of the elder brother of U Srinivas Mallya, He was quite influenced by his sacrifice for India’s freedom struggle. As a young boy, He used to hear a lot about U S Mallya. When He went to the US, Shenoy always wanted to return to India and join politics. Unfortunately, it took about 24 years. But He did return and contested election twice as an Independent for MLA in 1989 and 1994. He feels at this juncture in Karnataka, people of Karnataka do not even have even one tall leader with sterling qualities. “When our youth constantly hear the name of the airport, it may motivate them to learn about U S Mallya as an outstanding leader,” says Bhamy Shenoy.