About Dr C N Mruthyunjayappa

Dr C N Mruthyunjayappa

Born: 08 April 1942, Died: 11 April 2018

Dr C N Mruthyunjayappa (also popularly known as "Dr CNM" or "Sargur Doctor") was a man of many talents, interests and passions. A medical practitioner by profession, a leader by nature and a social reformer by passion, Dr CNM lived a very principled and highly active life and contributed to the society in various ways. He was well known for his free medical service to the underprivileged, development of rural education, fight against superstitious beliefs and harmful social practices, promotion of Basavanna's principles, and contribution towards environment conservation and plant variety protection.

Early Life and Education: Dr CNM was born to Sri. Patel Nanjappa and Smt. Parvathamma in Chikkabagilu Village, Mandya District. He completed his primary and secondary schooling in and around his hometown, moved to Mysore and completed high school from Marimallappa's High School. He pursued Bachelor of Science from Yuvaraja College Mysore and thereafter completed Medical Degree from Mysore Medical College.

Medical Profession: Immediately after graduating from medical college, Dr CNM enrolled as a volunteer and served in the war front during the 1971 India-Pakistan war over liberation of Bangladesh. Upon return, he took up a teaching job in Gulbarga Medical College, but very soon his true passion came calling. While researching for the most impoverished and isolated societies needing medical service, he came across Sargur in Mysore District. Sargur became the new home of Dr CNM, who practised medicine there for 35 years starting in 1973, served patrons from all corners of South Karnataka region. While his medical facility saw more than 200 visiting patients every day, he also covered remote rural areas to ensure adequate medical access was provided to the needy. He also served as President of Indian Medical Council HD Kote. In 2007, Dr CNM gave up active medical practice and took up an honorary posting in JSS Hospital Mysore as the Additional Medical Superintendent and as a Governing Council Member of JSS Dental College, where he served for 5 years.

Social Service: Dr CNM was one of the most prominent face of social service in the region. He picked the most pressing issues and dealt with them in the most practical and effective ways, many times in his personal capacity and in many cases by collaborating with various organisations. His most impactful campaigns were for promotion of rural education, fight against harmful social practices and superstitious beliefs, and push to end discrimination on the basis of case and religion. He was Founder Member of Rotary Club Sargur, Honorary Member of Lions Club Sargur, Director of MYRADA Kaveri Pradeshika Samsthe, Vice President of Indo-Tibetan Friendship Association, etc, and used these organizations as platforms to further the causes of social welfare and rural development. He was also nominated as advisor / member to various governmental agencies/ bodies such as Telecom Advisory Committee Mysore District, Unconventional Energy Commission, etc. All throughout, he was actively involved in promoting rural education and served as Head of School Development Committees of JSS Institutions and Government Primary and Secondary Schools in Sargur.

Political Experiment: Dr CNM viewed his involvement in politics as a necessity. It enabled him to get the attention of the law makers and bureaucracy on the needs of society and gave him a platform to bring about systemic change. He was initially associated with Congress (I) and worked closely with the Karnataka Congress leadership, and was elected to the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee. He switched to Janata Dal under the leadership of Sri Ramakrishna Hegde, played an instrumental role in building mass support in the Mysore region and contributed to bringing the party to power, and was appointed Vice President of Janata Dal Karnataka Unit. Dr CNM finally shifted to the BJP under the guidance of Sri B S Yeddyurappa, served as a party leader in Mysore District and as Vice President of BJP Karnataka Unit Raita Morcha. Through this period, Dr CNM aspired to enter the Lok Sabha and contested for Karnataka Assembly, but was unsuccessful. He retired from active politics in 2008.

Environment Conservation & Protection of Plant Varieties: Dr CNM founded "Vanasiri", an organization to promote environment preservation, forest and wildlife conservation. He worked closely with various government departments and non-governmental agencies to build awareness and take corrective action such as afforestation. Dr CNM was also an avid promoter and preserver of native plant varieties and seasonal fruits, as well as a collector of exotic and rate varieties of fruiting, flowering and medicinal plants. He setup his own gardens in Saragur and Mysore to preserve various local plant varieties as well as to experiment with non-native varieties and co-cultivation. He also developed unique expertise of grafting multiple varieties and species of plants on to a single stock. His gardens and gardening techniques have become a constant source of inspiration and education for various horticulture and agriculture institutes in and around Mysore. While all his work was non-commercial in nature, he encouraged the farming communities and amateur gardeners to leverage his varieties & techniques for both commercial & non-commercial purposes.

Spiritual Life: Dr CNM was an ardent believer and follower of Basavanna's principles. While his visits to temples or other places of public worship were largely to understand history and appreciate architecture, he actively practised meditation and prayers at home with just a picture of Basavanna and a stone Shiva Linga as a symbol of formless god. Dr CNM was mentored by Jagadguru Sr Shivaratri Rajendra Swamiji of Sutturu Mutt, and he continued this close association with Sutturu Mutt throughout his life. He was also inspired by the life of Swami Vivekananda that led him to enrol as a life member of Vivekananda Trust. He was a very prominent community leader who served as President of Akhila Bharata Veerashiva Mahasabha for Mysore & Chamarajanagar Districts, and sponsored/ donated to and promoted Karnataka State Kannada Sahitya Parishat, Akhila Bharata Sharana Sahitya Parishat, Sharanu Vishwas Vachana Foundation.

Literature: Dr CNM has written several books and publications, including three travelogues, one on health and wellness, a memoire and an autobiography that got translated into two other languages.

Recognition and Awards: Dr CNM received several recognsitions and awards by various governmental and non-governmental / private organizations, some of the important ones being Vaidya Ratna in 2011 and Plant Genome Saviour Award 2016.