There should Not be Segregation in Education - Litterateur Vaidehi

By Shekar Ajekar
Daijiworld Media Network - Moodbidri (RD/CN)

Moodbidri, Oct 27: The final preparations are under way for the seventh edition of the national cultural extravaganza, ‘Alva's Nudisiri,’ to be held from Friday October 29 to Sunday October 31 by Alva's Education Foundation at Vidhyagiri here. 

Sundari Alva campus of Alva's Education Foundation in Vidhyagiri, bears a festive look with colourful Yakshagana puppets placed at prominent spots to beckon the visitors to the event which is themed ‘Kannada Enthusiasts: Life Values.’

Dr M Mohan Alva, chairman, Alva's Education Foundation, has been organizing Alva's Nudisiri all these years with the chief objective of promoting Kannada culture with a series of programmes wherein folk artistes and musicians from all over the state and country participate to add flavour to the extravaganza. Veteran Kannada litterateurs and Tulunadu and Kannada cultural artistes are felicitated during the event for their extraordinary lifetime contributions.

Eminent Kannada litterateur Vaidehi will be the chairperson of Alva's Nudisiri this year.

Vaidehi is well-known in the Kannada literary sphere and her real name is Janaki Srinivasmurti. She recently bagged the Kendra Kannada Sahitya Academy Award for her short stories book titled ‘Crounchapakshigalu.’

In an exclusive interview with Daijiworld, Vaidehi shares her thoughts on various matters.

DW: How can Kannada medium schools threatened with closure be saved?

Vaidehi: The inequalities in schools such as private, English medium, ICSE etc are found in the education system. Students studying in schools other than English medium develop an inferiority complex since the English medium school students get more attention in society. The state administration should introduce a common curriculum. Kannada medium schools also should exist with English taught as the main subject. There should not be segregation of poor and rich in education. 

DW: Sectarian aspects are widely found in Kannada literature. Do litterateurs justify their stance in this regard? What are your comments?

Vaidehi: Literature has progressed amid controversies. Since I am a litterateur myself, it would not be appropriate to comment on my fellow litterateurs. It’s up to the readers and critics to comment on.

DW: Is it appropriate to stick to a specific stance when expressing views?

Vaidehi: It’s not committed to a specific stance, expressing of thoughts specifically depends on the region the litterateur lives in; their inner selves are being exposed in their writings. 

DW: What is your opinion about media?

Vaidehi: It’s unfortunate that media are competing among themselves. Furthermore, it’s a grave concern when truth gets hushed up in the media, which is supposed to be the pulse of the nation. The media should be responsible and expose the hidden truth.

DW: What are your comments on religious intolerance?

Vaidehi: The tolerance and love that was propagated by Mahatma Gandhi is the need of the hour, and the tentacles of religious intolerance persist once out of the work place. Friendly relations with an individual during personal visits ceases when faced with a group. Once in each other’s group, they see opponents.

DW: What would you like to say about Alva's Nudisiri?

Vaidehi: It has its own philosophy. It is different from other conventions that serve as mere festivals. There is discipline and punctuality in Alva's Nudisiri as the participants come from all over the state and country to give their best performances. Every convention has its own splendour.