Madikeri: 80th Kannada Sahitya Sammelana gets under way amid fanfare

Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network – Madikeri (EP)

Madikeri, Jan 7: The 80th All-India Kannada Sahitya Sammelana got under way with much fanfare here on Tuesday January 7. The three-day conference was inaugurated by Kodagu district incharge minister H C Mahadevappa.

Nearly five thousand artistes in eighty groups from 26 districts participated in a colourful procession from Gandhinagar to the venue marking the start of the conference. Eighty women carrying pots flanked the procession. The president of the conference writer Na D’ Souza was led to the dais on a chariot. Kannada flags painted the town in colours of red and yellow.

Chief minister Siddaramaiah who spoke on the occasion said that there is heavenly happiness in united harmonious living, setting aside calls of division. Any problems can be discussed and sorted out he said applying balm for call of separate Coorg. 

He said that Coorg is an inseparable part of Karnataka. Saying that there are people who term the conference as a fair, he said the conferences such as these should give mental peace. Politicians should only be sponsors of the events and litterateurs should be the inspiration for study of literature and knowledge. It should also be a place for discussion on development, he said.

“Next year we will be celebrating centenary of Kannada Sahitya Parishat. It should be a landmark in the ann of literature. The state government should provide suitable support, help and cooperation”, requested Kannada Sahitya parishat president Pundalik Halanbi. The chief minister responded that he would support the conference.

Some people in the gallery shouted that the anti superstition law should be implemented. The chief minister who responded, said that it is a sensitive matter and a decision can be arrived at only after detailed discussions from those who are pro and against the legislation.

Several entrances in the names of well-known people including General Thimmayya, litterateur D V Gundappa, Rev Ferdinand Kittel, Hermann Moegling, H M Nayak, Siddayya Puranik, B N Kushalappa, Gundukutti Manjunathayya, Mandira Jaya Appanna, Guddemane Appayya Gowda, former chief minister R Gundu Rao, Rajendra Vodeyar, Panjanda Belliappa and freedom fighters invited literature enthusiasts. The main entrance to the Kariappa college is named after Field Marshal Karyappa and the pandal is named after multi-lingual litterateur Muttanna. The podium has a capacity of 20,000 people. Lovers of literature from different places could be seen flocking to the conference.

Schools and colleges will remain closed during the three days of the conference.

Meals are arranged at the ground and preparations of different items are on. Items such as Bisi Belebath, Kesari bath, Khara Boondi, Pulav Kichdi, Anna Sambar, Rasam Pallya, rice paisa, chapatti and Kai Palya are some of the items.