Pics: Sunil Bekal
Daijiworld Media Network – Beltangady (SP)

Beltangady, Dec 6: State law and parliamentary affairs minister, Suresh Kumar, while acknowledging the importance of literary support for social movements, stressed the need to achieve development of Kannada language alongside regional development.

He was speaking after inaugurating the 78th Kannada Sahitya Sammelan organized at Dharmasthala on Sunday December 5, as part of the ongoing Laksha Deepotsava there. He preferred to read out a prepared speech as he felt the language of politics does not go well at Sahitya Sammelans.

Kumar said that literature has been the primary tool that has always inspired revolutions in different countries, which were aimed at creative liberation. He felt that the origin of literature, poetry and art lie in religions and support from the rulers. He hailed Kannada poets for expanding their horizons beyond these parameters, while the Dasa literature confined itself to devotion.  He lamented the fact that factionalism, which was hitherto identified with politics, has also spread to literature. He also noted that Kannada language needs to fight for existence and to flourish further not only in the state’s borders, but also in its capital, Bangalore.

Nadoja Dr Hampa Nagarajaiah, who presided, felt that it is the uppermost duty of litterateurs to ensure that culture does not get polluted, as it takes centuries to undo this harm. He said that schools and colleges should give an education which creates awareness among the students about Indian culture and heritage.

In his introductory address, Dharmasthala Dharmadhikari, Dr D Veerendra Heggade, drove home the point that literature, music and other forms of art, which relate to study of human life, expression of inner feelings, spreading of empathy towards the problems of others, inculcate a sense of forgiveness besides pity, have to be given abundant opportunities and encouragement.  Lectures were also delivered by professor in Kuvempu Institute of Kannada, Mysore, Dr N S Taranath, humourist, M S Narasimhamurty, and short stories writer, Nemichandra, at the Sammelan.

Performances by over 1,300instrumentalists and thousands of folk artistes added to the glitter of the procession that was taken out before the start of the Sammelan.

SDM Group of Educational Institutions vice president, Prof S Prabhakar, secretary, Dr B Yashovarma, and Jitesh Kumar read out the citations relating to the Sammelan president and inaugurator. Director of RUDSET, K S Prabhu, proposed the vote of thanks.