17th DK District Kannada Sahitya Sammelana begins

17th DK District Kannada Sahitya Sammelana begins

Mangalore Today News Network

Bantwal, Nov 18, 2011: The 17th DK District Kannada Sahitya Sammelan, a 2-day event, was inaugurated grandly on Nov 18 Friday. 

Mallika Prasad, the MLA of Puttur, flagged off a motorcade at Shri Panchalingeshwara Temple, Vittal while traditional music was played in the background. Shailaja P. Shetty, the president of the Taluk Panchayat, made a floral offering and Seetharam Poojary lit the traditional lamp.

 

The chariot of Kannada Bhuvaneshwari was received at Padibagilu. A total of 29 cultural teams participated in the procession and some of them were the Swami Rath of Alike Educational Institutions, Chende artistes from Kerala, Dollu Kunita, Shilpa Gombe artistes, Bhajan groups, Nasik band, colored parasols, Aati Kelenja, scouts, guides, women’s self-help groups, Bharat Seva Dal, Daff groups, and many more. 

Shri Mohandasa Paramahamsa Swamiji; Dr. Taltaje Vasanthkumar, the chairperson of the conference; U. Gangadhar Bhat, the president of the Alike Shri Satya Sai Loka Seva Institutions; Pradeep Kalkura, the president of the DK District KSP President; and many others participated in the procession. 

Kana Ishwar Bhat, the president of Alike GP, hoisted the national flag at the venue of the sammelan, the grounds of the Shri Satya Sai Lok Seva Institutions, while Kalkura hoisted the Kannada flag and ZP President Shailaja K. T. Bhat hoisted the Sammelana flag. Madakatte Ishwar Bhat hoisted the flag of Alike Institutions. 

CM D. V. Sadananda Gowda inaugurated the event and said that DK has contributed a great deal to the world of literature. Stating that culture, heritage, and land can survive only if the language survives, he said that DK is home to Kannada in its pristine form. 

Further, the minister said that, although DK gives special importance to Kannada, it is home to several languages. Besides, the language as spoke in DK has won the appreciation of people from different parts of the world. He also promised the people of DK that he would work for their welfare and would never betray their trust.

 

The chairperson of the conference Dr. Taltaje Vasanth Kumar said in his address that Kannada thrives in an environment in which everybody lives according to Kannada culture and becomes a widely spoken language. Further explaining the concept, he said that language and culture are inter-dependant on each other, with one declining when the other faces oblivion.

Speaking on burning issues such as the state government’s decision to shut down Kannada schools owing to lack of students, he said that the government’s move will deprive rural kids of education.

He also expressed appreciation of the works of Ratnakaravarni, Manjeshwar Govind Pai, Muddanna, Muliya Timmappayya, Kadengodlu Shankar Bhat, M. N. Kamath, Seidiyapu Krishna Bhat, Shivaram Karanth, Kayyar Kinhanna Rai, Gopalakrishna Adiga, Niranjan, and others.

He acknowledged the role played by the Akashvani and local television channels in the protection and preservation of Kannada language and culture by airing Kannada programmes. He also mentioned the importance of Kannada newspapers, magazines, and farming bulletins.