Alva’s Nudisiri Virasat gets off to a colourful start

Alva’s Nudisiri Virasat gets off to a colourful start

Mangalore Today News Network

Moodbidri, Dec 20, 2013: Well known writer and scholar Prof. B.A.Viveka Rai has stressed the need for translating the rich Kannada literature including folk literature into various languages of the world to spread the fragrance of Kannada   land across the globe.

He was presiding over the 4-day Alva’s Vishwa Nudisiri Virasat which commenced  at Vidyagiri in Moodbidri on December 19, Thursday.

The senior writer  deplored the inaction of the   state and central governments in  according classical status to Kannada language and pointed out how Tamil has progressed after it was accorded the classical status.

Rai also expressed his concern over the fact that not much pro-Kannada voices are heard at the national level and this he said was one of the reasons for the  Kannadigas failing to get their share in various aspects.

Stressing the need to protect and promote rural culture, Rai said villages of India are a world by themselves  and added  industrialisation is thrust upon villages thereby contributing to the decline of the rural culture.

Invariably referring to the proposed Niddodi thermal power project, Rai said there is lush paddy cultivation in Niddodi area of Moodbidri at a time when land under paddy cultivation was shrinking. Let our rice bowls not be contaminated by fly ash, he hoped. Rai also urged the government to set up a rural university.

The four-day cultural and literary extravaganza was earlier inaugurated by Dr D Veerendra Heggade, Dharmadhikari of Dharmasthala.

In his inaugural address, Dr Heggade hoped that Alva’s event would be an inspiration to the people to face the challenges of globalisation.

Past Presidents of Nudisiri and Virasats were felicitated on the occasion by Dr Heggade and Dr M Mohan Alva, Chairman of Alva’s Education Foundation.

Those felicitated were Dr Baragur Ramachandrappa, Dr SL Bhairappa, Dr Chandrashekhar Kambara, Prof. G Venkatasubbaiah, Dr Chennaveera Kanavi, Dr Hampa Nagarajaiah, Vaidehi, Dr KS Nisar Ahmed  and the present president Dr BA Viveka Rai.

Ministers from the undivided DK district including B Ramanatha Rai, Vinaykumar Sorake, UT Khader, K Abhayachandra Jain, MP Nalin Kumar Kateel, Legislators Capt Ganesh Karnik, Sunil Kumar, former minister Amarnath Shetty, and others were present.

Colourful procession:  Earlier, a colourful procession depicting the rich culture of the land was taken out  from Chowtara Palace to Vidyagiri  marking the beginning of the four day event.