Mangalore: Forum urges MLA to consider only writers for Konkani Akademy posts
Media Release
Mangalore, Jun 20: Konkani Writers Forum, Karnataka, the only registered body of Konkani writers in the state of Karnataka for the past 19 years, having more than 120 members, met Mangalore south MLA J R Lobo and requested him to consider only writers of repute for the post of the president of Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy and its members.
The Forum said, "From last several years writers are being sidelined in Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy and it is injustice to the entire writers' fraternity."
Henry Mendonca (H M Pernal, editor of Kittall.com), president and Marcel D Souza (Machcha Milar), general secretary of Konkani Writers' Forum were part of the delegation which called on MLA J R Lobo.
In a letter addressed to Lobo, the Forum has given a bird’s eye view of the forum's activities in the past 19 years and expressed unhappiness on not having their representation considered in Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy. To stop the injustices to the writers fraternity, the Forum urged MLA Lobo, while nominating the president and members to Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy, the government should consider only writers of repute who contributed to Konkani literature immensely. The government should also consider only active writers who can devote their time to the academy. The Forum further urged that the government should ensure at least two memberships to the Writers' Forum and that through the academy it should fund literary programmes conducted by the forum.
MLA Lobo assured the delegation that he would definitely look in to the matter on priority basis and see to it that Konkani writers get justice and their due share in the Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy.
Bangalore: Presidentships of academies – government accused of partisan attitude
Daijiworld Media Network – Bangalore (SP)
Bangalore, Jun 20: The government’s action in insisting on resignations by presidents of certain academies, and retaining a couple among them untouched, has given rise to accusations and heartburn.
Chief minister, Siddaramaiah, who had initially said that everything should change, seems to have developed soft corner only for a couple of the presidents. President of Karnataka Madhyama Academy and chairman of Kannada Development Authority, have been allowed to continue in their posts.
Former president of Karnataka Chalanachitra Academy, Tara, accused some officials close to the Chief Minister, of playing politics. She said that the chief minister, who had earlier said that resignations need not be submitted in haste, all of a sudden faxed a letter relieving her from the post. Former president of Lalitakala Academy, Krishna Setti, took exception to the fact that Madhyama Academy president has been allowed to continue. Siddalingaiah, former president of Karnataka Pustaka Pradhikara, opined that it is left to the discretion of the chief minister to continue or drop academy presidents.
Some have pointed out that the chief minister, who had said that a cabinet sub-committee would be formed for appointing presidents to corporations and boards, seems to have forgotten the promise. A few appointments have already been made. Memberships of nominated members of the syndicate of Bangalore University alone have been cancelled, leaving other universities untouched, they claim.
It is surprising that a BJP activist and former BJP MLC, Mukhya Mantri Chandru, has been allowed to retain chairmanship of Kannada Development Authority. M A Ponnappa, president of Karnataka Madhyama Academy, also seems to enjoy favour from the chief minister. In general, the people opine that the chief minister should have either opted to retain all of them or drop everyone. It is now hoped that the new government will not repeat the mistake of the BJP government, which had allowed the memberships of the academies to go unfilled for several months after naming their presidents.