ENARADA, Madikeri, January 7, 2014:
The 80th All India Kannada Sahitya Sammelana began in the coffee land of Madikeri at Field Marshal K.M. Cariappa College Grounds today, amid Scholars, writers, kananda literary personalities from all over the country.
Over 350 book stalls have been put up at the college ground and as many as 10,000 delegates and nearly 100 writers and thinkers are taking part in the three-day Sammelana.
The language festival began with the hoisting of National Tricolour by Kodagu District in-charge Minister Dr. H.C. Mahadevappa.
State Kannada Sahitya Parishat (KSP) President Pundalika Halambi hoisted the Parishat flag at the venue.
Kannada novelist Norbert D’ Souza, popularly known as Na. D’Souza, who is the President of the Kannada literary meet, along with his wife, was taken out in a procession from Gandhi Maidan to the main venue.
The procession was flagged off by Deputy Commissioner Anucheth Tiwari at the Gandhi Maidan. Over 100 folk artistes participated in the convention, providing glimpses of folk culture of the land. Eighty women bearing kalashas led the procession to mark the 80th Sammelana.
It was cynosure of all eyes and lit up the procession bringing their flare with traditional outfits and dances, with over 150 people participating from the madikery kodava samaja. Malekunidya tribes, a part of kodagu, also took part in the procession in their colourful outfits.
Since the sammelan is being held in Madikeri district after a long gap of 32 years, the enthusiasm of the local people to be part of the cultural event was palpable. They had gathered in thousands to witness the procession. Many watched the procession from the terraces and balconies of the houses and commercial complexes.
The procession route was decorated with rangoli, banners and buntings.
Renowned police band of Mysore and the women’s band of Karnataka State Women’s University added glitter to the procession.
At the inauguration of the 80th Kannada Sahitya Sammelan here on Saturday, Chief Minister S siddramiah said though the Union government had accorded classical status to Kannada, it had not provided the necessary benefits that are required to popularise the Kannada language in other parts of the country.
He said his government was committed to providing adequate financial assistance to the Kannada Sahitya Parishat for publications of Kannada dictionaries and for translation of books by Jnanpith Kannada writers into other languages.
“The government has set up a Boarder Area Development Authority that aims to develop Kannada and assist Kannadigas living in bordering areas of the State. We will also give complete support for organising cultural programmes such as Hampi, Dasara, Kittur Utsavs in various parts of the State,” he added.
He also categorically said his government is committed for the kananda medium and not close down government primary schools. He reiterated that there would be no compromises in protecting the interests of Kannada and Kannadigas.
“I have studied in Kannada medium till High School. I have given instruction to use Kannada as the official language in administration and I do not even see the documents written in English language” CM said.
Referring to MES MLA’s sambaji patel’s negative attitude towards the kananda language, he said the government has already filed criminal charges against him. “Government will not spare anyone who disrespect to the kananda lanagage in the state” Siddaramaiah emphasized.
He also recalled that he was the first chairman of Kannada watch dog committee during the Ramakrishna hedge government.
Litterateurs K. Chennabasappa, Malali Vasanth Kumar, Legislative Council Chairman D.H. Shankaramurthy, Ministers Umashri, Dinesh Gundurao, MP A.H. Vishwanath, MLC M.C. Nanaiah, Kodagu district Kannada Sahitya Parishat President T.P. Ramesh and others shared the dias.
Earlier, Chief Minister Siddharamaiah, who arrived from Bangalore in a helicopter, stopped at Kushalnagar town and went to Chikkaluvara village where he inaugurated the newly established Post Graduation Centre of Mangalore University.
The PG centre would cater to higher education needs of Kodagu students. A separate wing to propagate Kodava culture, art and heritage would be started at the centre for which a proposal had been sent to State govt.
