Shekar Ajekar
Daijiworld Media Network - Karkala (RD)

Karkala, Mar 16: "The full moon brightens the night for everyone which is a sign of equality," said renowned Kannada litterateur Jayant Kaikini.

He was speaking at the third Akhila Karnataka Beladingala Sahitya Sammelana held under the auspices of Sri College, Moodbidri, and Beladingala Sahitya Sammelana committee at historical Gomateshwarabetta here, recently.

"It’s a new experiment to organize the Sahitya Sammelana on a moonlit night," said Kaikini.  "Literature has everything, and literary–musical experiments enrich cultural upbringing, free the people from the clutches of caste, religion, and blind beliefs," he added.

"Movie songs have an emotional appeal which bonds countrymen from Kashmir to Kanyakumari," added Kaikini.

"People are occupied with thoughts on how to make money. Only the wealthy are not great and human beings with virtues are great. Literature can change the life of an individual.  One can live peaceful moments despite untold miseries, through literature. Life bears poetry and tales about every individual," he added.

Well-known litterateur Na Mogasale, after inaugurating the Sammelana, said that light is important than darkness, because light retreats in darkness.  "It seems people have forgotten about sunrise and sunset. The moonlit Sammelana has opened new avenues to explore literature," he added.

Speaking on the occasion, Udupi-based Hanuman Motors director Vilas Nayak said that the moonlit Sammelana will inspire budding litterateurs to explore their literary capabilities.

KMES Education Institutions chairman K S Imtiyaz Ahmed was the chief guest on the occasion.

Beladingala Sahitya Sammelana Honorary Awards

Kannada Sahitya Parishat former president Harikrishna Punaroor conferred honorary awards on Mumbai litterateur Kodu Bhoja Shetty, TV serial actor and social activist K P Nanjundi, Tulunada Rangabhoomi Ratna Navin D Padil, mimicry artiste Pattabhirama Sullia, ‘Rangoli’ journal editor and artiste Bharati Maravante, Yakshagana Kala Ranga chairman Shivaram Shetty Tallur, Kundapur Spoorthidhama founder Keshav Koteshwar, and Karkal Shastriya Sangeeta Sabha secretary Dr Prakash Shenoy on the occasion.

‘Karnataka Sahitya Dampati Ratna’ was conferred on Dr Vamana Nandavar and Prof Chandrakala Nandavar.

Navin D Patil, in acknowledgement, said that it was a great honour to accept the award from renowned litterateur Jayant Kaikini.

K P Nanjundi reminisced about his early life and said that he had learned a hard lesson from the sufferings of his mother.  "It’s for the first time in his life that he had witnessed a moonlit literary convention," he added.

Veteran litterateur Kanarady Vadiraj Bhat presided over the programme.

SCDCC Bank chairman M N Rajendra Kumar, literary union secretary M Ramachandra, and media award recipient S Jayaram were present on the occasion.

Children’s Talent Awards

Children’s talent awards were conferred on Ayana V Raman and Shweta of Moodbidri, Vijet Ullal, Abhishek M B, Krishna Prasad, and Ananya Rai from Mangalore.

‘Ranga Bharati’ director K V Raman Mangalore compered the programme.

Moodbidri Talents’ Rajesh Bhat, poet Jyoti Guruprasad, and playwright Jayaprakash Mavinakuli were present.

The women’s session, midnight poets’ session, and youth session were also held on the occasion.