Arun Uppinangady
Daijiworld Media Network - Bantwal (VM)

Bantwal, Feb 1: “Our community which is divided based on caste and religion can be united through literature. In this regard, Sahitya Sammelana should be a role model,” said Dr Shimantooru N Narayana Shetty.

He was giving the presidential address at the 18th Dakshina Kannada Sahitya Sammelana held at Uppinangady Government School on Friday February 1.

“Literature should be a part of everyone’s life. Let the medium of literature be different, but literature which imparts life values will bring cheer. In today’s world, people have lost their values and are walking on the wrong path. Hence, media should bring them back through literary values. Literature has the power to bring people together and make them live in peace,” added Dr Shetty

Speaking after inaugurating the programme, litterateur Dr Kamala Hampana said, “These days we hear many instances wherein our state is being divided. Coorg, which is called as Kashmir of Karnataka, wants to be break away from the state; Belgaum is posing a threat of division. We should try to prevent events like this.”

“If children do not speak Kannada, there is no chance of preserving the language for the next generation. A national education policy should be followed in every state. We should keep English as the prime language and impart education with the state’s main language as the base” she added.

“We should respect Rani Abakka. In order to recognize her contribution, Mangalore University and the Mangalore-Bangalore train should be named after her. Similarly, the Bangalore-Shimoga train should be named after Rani Chennabairadevi,” she added.

Mukyamantri Chandru, president, Kannada Abhivraddi Pradhikara, said that representatives who rule the state should take necessary steps to preserve the language. “With the aim of preserving Kannada, which has a history of 2,500 years, people who do not respect the language should not be given a chance to rule the state,” he asserted after inaugurating the art exhibition organized at the venue.

“Coastal areas are credited with preserving the language through Yakshagana and various other art forms,” he said adding that the coastal districts are the only places in Karnataka which have preserved the original Kannada.

On the occasion, D Harshendra Kumar, of Sri Kshetra Dharmasthala, honored Vidhwamsa Kaithanje Narasimha Bhat, Dr N Sukumar Gowda, Dr D Sadashiv Bhat, S D Pejattaya, and VB Artikaje.

Savanur Seethram Rai welcomed the gathering; Mahesh compered while Varadaraja Chandragiri delivered the vote of thanks.

Prior to the state programme, a ‘Kannada Bhuvaneshwari’ procession was organized which left from Uppinangady PU College and passed by through the main roads in the town. Dr Shetty, Taltaje Vasanth Kumar, former president of the Sammelana, and Pradeep Kumar Kalkura were present. The band by Scouts and Guides and ‘Chende Maddale’ added more charm to the procession.

The procession was inaugurated by Uppinangady gram panchayat president Nalinakshi.