Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (SP)

Mangalore, Feb 9: Veteran litterateur and cine director, Nagatihalli Chandrashekhar, expressed deep concern at the present political, social, and economic scenario, and the tendency towards neglecting the land and water resources. He said that these developments are destroying the rich village culture of the country.

He was speaking after accepting Prof SVP Memorial Award presented to him at a function organized at the auditorium of Canara College here on Tuesday February 8.

“We have been treating issues relating to language, land, forests, water and such other things with utter neglect. If the third world war ever occurs, it may well be for accessing water resources. Literature has always supported change without shirking our social responsibilities, diluting our faiths and ideals which have been cherished since long,” he said.

Nagatihalli drew the attention of the audience to the fact that the country faces a shortage of 100 million tonnes of food, which will go up by two to three times in the next ten years, adding that such a situation will be very grave.  “Where from will you get food if the village culture gets destroyed? Good citizens are created when we keep out literature and culture pure. Pose these questions to yourselves and probe for the answers,” he advised.

Litterateur and professor, Dr Na Damodar Shetty, said that Nagatihalli was chosen for the award considering his affinity towards village culture, as depicted in his literature, as well as movies and tele-series directed by him.

Kannada professor and critic, Dr Ajakkalal Girish Bhat, opined that the modern-day problems have emanated out of the apathy shown by the people towards noble values of literature, music, art, culture, etc.

Ramachandra, son of the late Prof S V Parameshwhar Bhat, was present. President of Prof SVP Memorial Committee, Erya Lakshminarayan Alva, presided over the function. Chandrakala Nandavar welcomed. Dr Narasimha Murthy presented the programme.