Daijiworld Media Network – Karkala (SP)

Karkala, Jun 13: Well-known Kannada litterateur and ‘Nadoja’ awardee, Dr Chennaveera Kanavi, lamented on the dwindling use of Kannada by Kannadigas, and called upon for immediate steps to restore the language into a popular medium of communication. “With the use of mobile phones and internet, the habit of writing has dwindled. Correspondence in Kannada has shrunk to alarmingly low levels. This has largely been affecting the growth of language and its use as a communication medium,” he pointed out.

He was addressing the gathering after presiding over a convention of pro-Kannada organizations from across Karnataka, organized in association with Kannada Sahitya Academy Bangalore by Prof M Ramachandra Congratulatory Committee Karkala at Ramakrishna Auditorium of Sri Bhuvanendra College here on Sunday June 12.

Kanavi referred to the fact that Prof M Ramachandra has, in his work titled ‘Patravali’, recorded hundreds of letters written to him by his mentor, Sediyapu Krishna Bhat. He hailed this to be a valuable treasure. He insisted that exchange of letters in Kannada have the potential of achieving better growth of Kannada language. At the same time, he hailed the services being rendered by various organizations working for Kannada from across the state.

State minister, Dr V S Acharya, who inaugurated the convention, said that the government has been encouraging organizations and institutions working to popularize Kannada language, culture and art. Declaring that the government will be sanctioning a grant of one lac rupees each to pro-Kannada organizations from this year onwards, he laid bare the proposal to draw some yardstick to evaluate the work and recognize such organizations with effect from next year.

Representatives of Karnataka Vidyavardhaka Sangha Dharwad, Karnataka Sangha Shimoga, Karnataka Sangha Mandya, Karnataka Sangha Puttur, and Kannada Sangha Kantavara, were felicitated on the occasion, in recognition of their services to the cause of Kannada and culture.

‘Nenapina Suragi’, a memoire dedicated to Prof M Ramachandra’s life and achievements, and ‘Sediyapu Patravali’ edited by him, were dedicated to the world on this occasion. Honorary president of the Congratulatory Committee, Erya Lakshminarayana Alva, Alvas Education Foundation chairman, Dr M Mohan Alva, Mangalore University registrar, Dr K Chinnappa Gowda, and working president of the committee, Andar Mahavir Hegde, were present at the dais.

At the function arranged in the afternoon, Prof M Ramachandra, retired professor, pro-Kannada activist, and convener of Sahitya Sangha, and his wife, were felicitated by Dr D Veerendra Heggade, Dharmasthala Dharmadhikari.

S Nityanand Pai, Hemavati Heggade, Yashovarma, Prof B Padmanabha Gowda, writer, A Ra Mitra, Dr Taltaje Vasant Kumar, R Tukaram Nayak, Dr S M Vrushabhendra Swamy, G K Prabhu, and many other dignitaries were present.