Udupi: 14th Children's Literary Convention in Barkur on Jan 14-15

Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi

Udupi, Jan 11: The most awaited literary event in and around Barkur, the annual Makkala Sahitya Sammelana jointly organised by Swami Vivekananda Samskrithika Kendra, www.barkuronline.com and Shanthivana Trust, Dharmasthala will be held on January 14 and January 15 at the Rukmini Shedthi Memorial National First Degree College campus in Barkur, as announced by Ramabhat Sajangadde in a press release.

The 14th Children's Literary Convention, in succession, along with 8th Panchamukhi Vyakthithva Vikasana Yoga camp, will be inaugurated at 10.30 am on January 14 and the valedictory function will be held at 1.30 pm on January 15. A collection of self written poems will be released during the convention and various symposiums on literature and poetry will be presented by famous resource people. About 700-800 high school students from the Udupi district are expected to participate in this district-level convention.

As per the tradition of Makkala Sahitya Sammelana, the convention will be presided over by Akshay Hegde, a student of 9th standard at Government High School, Volakadu, Udupi. Famous lyricist of Mungaru Male fame, poet, story writer Jayanth Kaikini will inaugurate the convention. Upendra Nayak, president, Udupi zilla panchayat will release the collection of poems written by the children. Central Sahitya Academy Award winning Konkani poet Melvyn Rodrigues and Kota Srinivas Poojary, former minister, will be the guests of honour. Many students with various achievements in educational and extracurricular fields will be honoured on this occasion.

District educational officer Ashok Kamath will deliver the valedictory address at the valedictory function to be held on January 15 at 1.30 pm, again presided over by Akshay Hegde. Sri Yogeshwaranandaji Maharaj, president of Ramakrishna Ashram, Ramohalli, Bangalore, Mallika B Poojary, member, Brahmavar zilla panchayat and Sujatha S Poojary, president, Hanehalli gram panchayat will be present during the occasion.

Along with various literary activities by various resource persons for two days, the highlight of this year is a musical programme of songs of award winning lyricist, poet Dr Jayanth Kaikini on January 14 at 6.30 pm. The interactive live music programme to be held in the presence of Jayanth himself will be a unique one with live paintings by famous artists. Avinash of Spandana TV will anchor the show in which Dr Nithin Acharya, Voice of Bangalore, Prajoth D’Sa of album 'Udi Udi' fame and Vaishnavi R, singer of Udaya TV will render some of the most sought after songs of Jayanth Kaikini. The show will be webcasted live on barkuronline.com. daijiworld.com is the media partner for the programme.

Ramabhat Sajangadde, convener, B Ashok C Poojary, yoga coordinator, Udupi district, Koodli Sathyanarayana Udupa, vice-president, Swami Vivekananda Samskrithika Kendra, C Rajashekhar Hebbar, principal, Rukmini Shedthi Memorial National First Degree College, Barkur, Kishore Gonsalves of barkuronline.com and Avinash Kamath, creative head, Spandana TV were present for the press meet.

Makkala Sahitya Sammelana so far

It all started in the year 1998 with the initiation of Swami Vivekananda Samskrithika Kendra at Barkur under the guidance of Shri Ramakrishna Ashram in commemorating the centenary of Ramakrishna Mission. Since then the center has relentlessly worked towards the goals of developing the hidden talents in children and guiding them in total personality development by conducting various programmes for the last 16 years.

The first ever Makkala Sahitya Sammelana was successfully held on February 4, 2001 at Buddha Jayanthi Mandira, Barkur in the presence of delegates like Prof Murulidhara Upadhya Hiriyadka, Kooradi Seethrama Adiga, Kota Shridhra Hande and was presided over by Harshith Sajangadde. There was no looking back after that and the Makkala Sahitya Sammelana has come a long way in these 14 years with an impressive list of resource persons and guests like Dr Gananath Ekkar, A S N Hebbar, Prof A V Navada, Prof Udyvara Madhava Acharaya, H Subrahmanya Bhat, Brahmavar, Devu Hanehalli, Kasaragod Chinna, Dr Palthadi Ramakrishna Achar, Pandith Ramakrishna Shasthri, C H Krishna Shasthri Balila, S.Nithyananda Padre, Dr M Mohan Alva, Dhundiraj, Jayanth Kaikini, Sandhya Pai, Dr Na Mogasale, Chkaravarthi Sulibele, Chandrashekara Kedlya and many others making it a most sought after literary event in Udupi district.