Rons Bantwal for Daijiworld Media Network – Panaji (AF)
with inputs from Manjunath Sagar

Panaji, May 28: The All-India Kannada cultural convention was inaugurated recently by Karnataka state minister for science and technology Ramachandra Gowda here.

The convention was jointly organized by Hrudayavahini newspaper, Mangalore and Karnataka Samskritika Sangha here.

The inaugural ceremony was presided over by Karnataka housing minister D T Jayakumar. Speaking on the occasion, he said that Kannadigas are a very tolerant lot and this was evident in the fact that Bangaloreans live in harmony with people speaking various other languages.

MLA D S Veeraiah who was the chief guest on the occasion said that people from outside Karnataka have contributed immensely to the growth of Kannada. He further said that the solutions to problems like casteism lie in Kannada culture.

Singapore Kannada Sangha president V S Srinivas and America’s ‘Akka’ former president Amarnath Gowda elaborated on the efforts put by Kannada organizations abroad on preserving the Kannada culture. Convention organizing committee president and Hrudayavahini editor K P Manjunath shed light on the objectives of the convention.

Kannada Sahitya Parishad former president Pradeep Kumar Kalkura and ‘Mungaru Male’ movie producer E Krishnappa also spoke on the occasion.

Divakar Shetty, P S Karanth, Premnath Shetty Mundkur and K V Shankarappa were honoured on the occasion for their contributions to the growth and development of Kannada.

The valedictory was presided over by Dr Siddhalingaiah. America’s ‘Akka’ association vice-president Prabhudev was the chief guest. Toronto Kannada Sangha former president Mahesh Srinivas addressed the gathering.

Mahesh Srinivas was honoured with the Hrudayavantaru Award-2007 by Dr Siddhalingaiah on the occasion.