The tale of the Padma Shri medal found abandoned at the venue of the Thiruvalluvar statue unveiling ceremony, which was reported by DNA on Monday, ended on a happy note. The medal was restored to its rightful owner, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan director Dr Mattur Krishnamurthy.
“I thank DNA for publishing the report which enabled me to get back my lost medal. In fact, I did not want so much publicity as I feared people will find me irresponsible in having failed to keep the medal in safe custody. I must have lost it when I was trying to enter the venue in the rush of milling crowds. The loose ends of the tag may have resulted in the medal falling off me,” Dr Krishnamurthy told DNA.
Dr Krishnamurthy went to the venue for Sunday’s ceremony with the medal on his person, to meet the security needs of the police as he was told that an elaborate bandobust would be in place.
He said it was only providence that helped in him getting the medal back in an unscathed condition. “I must thank those good samaritans who handed it over to the police,” he said.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (VVIP Security) V Ramaiah said he received more than a dozen calls following the DNA report. Then Mattur Krishnamurthy called and claimed that the medal was his and he had taken it to the unveiling ceremony where it went missing.
“It is a great pleasure that the medal is back in the hands of the right person,” he said.
The Padma Shri medal was found by a Tamil Sangham volunteer, Arulappan, at the RBANMS grounds where the Thiruvalluvar statue unveiling ceremony was held. Arulappan gave it to his team leader, who with the help of Tamil Sangham functionaries, handed it over to the city police.
Mattur Krishnamurthy received the award on February 14 last from President Pratibha Patil at a Rashtrapathi Bhavan function. He was among the list of Padma Shri awardees announced earlier on Republic Day.
