Kollegal poet mentioned by PM in Mann ki Baat gets Centre’s invite for Republic Day parade

CHAMARAJANAGAR: The Union government has invited Kollegal resident and poet Manjunath Balagunase, about whom Prime Minister Narendra Modi had made a mention in his ‘Mann ki Baat’, to participate in the Republic Day parade on January 26 in New Delhi.

Manjunath is a LIC agent and also a poet. During the Covid-19 lockdown, he had composed a lullaby, ‘Malagu Kanda, Malagu Koose’, and had submitted his entry for the 75th Independence Day competitions on his elder son’s insistence. Young poets and writers from 600 districts across the country had submitted their entries for the competition. The entry won him Rs 6 lakh cash prize.

After the lullaby became famous, Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself mentioned about the ‘lori’ and had said that it had drawn his attention. “I have heard the song and all of you too should hear it”, the PM said and played out the lullaby sung by some young artists.

The Union government has even booked flight tickets for Manjunath and his wife on January 24 and the couple will be travelling from the Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru. They will return on January 26.