Sharjah: Dhwani Pratishtana Celebrates Classical Language Status Accorded to Kannada

Pics: Naveen Sequeira, Brahmavar
Daijiworld Media Network—Sharjah (CN)

Sharjah, Dec 7: Kannada enthusiasts here celebrated the apex of achievement in the history of the Kannada language—the classical status accorded to it by the central government recently—under the banner of Dhwani Pratishtana on Friday December 5 at the Arab Udupi Restaurant hall.

Prakash Rao Payyar, convenor, Dhwani Pratishtana, in his welcome address talked about Kannada literature touching upon ‘Vachana Sahitya’, and the literature of Jnanpeeth awardees. It is because Tamil language got this status that we Kannadigas put forward the demand to the government.  If not for Tamil, Kannada would not have attained this status, said Somayaji, a Kannada activist.

Gopinath, and B G Mohandas, informed about the benefits Kannada language gets from its classical status. Enterpreneur Ashok Shetty presided over the function and in his speech called upon all Kannadigas to talk in their mother tongue.  It is the duty of every individual staying in Karnataka, be it a Tulu, Konkani, Kodava or Beary, to safeguard the interests of the Kannada language he said.

Adolphus Avitas Coutinho (Dolla Manglur) Konkani playwright, director, actor, and magician, was felicitated on the occasion by Ashok Shetty. Arthur Pereira introduced Coutinho to the audience. While thanking Dhwani Pratishtana, Dolla cracked some hilarious jokes in his inimitable style.

A multi-lingual poetry session was also held wherein poets representing Kannada, Konkani, Tulu, and Kodava, languages recited some of their best poems. Konkani poet Melvyn Rodrigues was present on the dais.