Mounesh Vishwakarma

Daijiworld Media Network - Bantwal

Bantwal, Jan 12: Short poems (chutuku) should be humorous and lighthearted, not a source of personal mental distress. Strong and timeless short poems endure forever, said Mulya Shankar Bhat, president of the sixth Bantwal Taluk Short Poetry Conference and a friend of young readers.

He was speaking at the conference organized by the Dakshina Kannada District Short Poetry Parishat and the Bantwal Taluk Short Poetry Parishat, under the aegis of the Vitla Education Society. The event was held on Sunday at the Suvarna Rangamandira of Vitla Pre-University College, within the Palimar Shri Janardhana Pai Auditorium on the Ravi Varma Krishnaraja Arasu Stage.

“Short poems resonate with and win over the minds of children. However, the form of short poems has evolved over time to reflect changing circumstances,” he noted, emphasizing the importance of short poetry and its continual connection with the world.

In the presence of the Vitla Royal Family’s Bangaru Raja, M G R Arasu, general secretary of the Central Committee of the Short Poetry Parishat, inaugurated the event by lighting the lamp. He remarked that a gathering of ten interested individuals is more meaningful than an assembly of a hundred indifferent attendees. He added, "Short poems bring solace to everyone’s hearts and hold significant importance, much like Kanaka’s window in the literary world."

The event was graced by prominent guests, including senior litterateur Radhakrishna Uliyattadka, Ira Nemu Poojary, Mysuru District Short Poetry Parishat vice president Nataraj Mysuru, Vitla Education Society principal Adarsh Chokkadi, and conference reception committee vice president Sudarshan Padiyar.

At the conference, the book Chutuku Sagara by Seetalakshmi Verma was unveiled. Several achievers from different fields were felicitated, including Aaradhana Kalabhavana Saradka (organization), physical education director Srinivas Gowda, lecturer Anappa Sasthana, Rajyotsava awardees Shekhar Parava and Gopal Jogi, folk medicine practitioner Nalini, and young talent Rishith Raj.

Prior to the inauguration, a procession was flagged off by Ravi Prakash, president of the Bantwal Town Panchayat’s standing committee. Vishwanath Bantwal, president of the Taluk Kannada Sahitya Parishat, hoisted the Kannada flag, while Harish Sulaya Oddambettu, president of the District Short Poetry Parishat, hoisted the short poetry flag. Nityananda Nayak, a member of Vitla Education Society, inaugurated the exhibition stalls.

Reception committee president Venugopal Shetty Maruvaal welcomed the gathering. Anand Rai Adkasthala, president of the taluk unit of the Short Poetry Parishat, proposed the vote of thanks, while Mohan Gurjinadka, treasurer of the reception committee, expressed gratitude. The program was compered by Radhakrishna Erumbu and Mallika Shetty Siddakatte.

As part of the conference, a caricature exhibition by Viraj Aduru and an art exhibition featuring works by Balakrishna Shetty Khandiga and students were held.