Silvester D’ Souza
Daijiworld Media Network – Kundapur (EP)
Kundapur, Feb 20: “We being Kannadigas, should not let Kannada become weak. The mother tongue should not be forgotten even if children learn different languages. Our Kundapur Kannada language is unique and we are glad that people are taking interest in the growth of Kundapur Kannada language,” said author and columnist Shivananda Karanth.
He was speaking after presiding over Kundapur taluk 18th Kannada Sahitya Sammelana – 2023 held by Kannada Sahitya Parishad Udupi and Kannada Sahitya Parishad Kundapur at Saraswathi Pre university college auditorium, Gangolli on Sunday.
“The government should provide special status to Kundapur Kannada that has the huge wealth of literature and culture and is spoken by more than 25 lac people in more than 300 villages. Kundapur Kannada Academy and Kundapur Kannada seat should be opened. It is sad that our elected representatives and local groups have not taken action in this direction. The Younger generation should campaign for it,” he said.
“This area that has amazing cultural heritage, sea, rivers and Malnad should be improved for tourism so that Kannadiga youth obtain jobs. The people of Kundapur have contributed immensely in various sectors. A centre of exhibition should be established for it. Gangolli is a historic village but it is deserted after the construction of national highway. Therefore a bridge between Gangolli and Kundapur is essential. The government should provide the facilities that are available in government schools to private schools also. A multipurpose auditorium should be constructed after the name of Mogeri Gopalakrishna Adiga who brought repute to Karnataka,” he said.
Gangolli based hotelier from Bengaluru Jagannatha V Pai who spoke after inaugurating the conference and the book stalls said that those who respect the nation, religion, land, water and language are great. “It is unfortunate that these days most people go after the English language. The governments taking time to declare the study of Kannada compulsory is unfortunate. It is not wrong to say that Kannada is spoken more in villages,” he said.
“It is correct to learn English for business purposes. But parents who think that use of English makes them more respectful in the society spend more money and admit their children to English medium schools, send them abroad for higher education but the children forget the land they were born in, school, language and the parents who gave them education. Instead of keeping wealth for children and spoil them, if we provide them good education and culture, they will never forget the land they were born in, school, language and parents,” he said.
“It is unfortunate that most of the people employed here are from outside the state. If our governments provide jobs to local people they will not go to other states and abroad looking for opportunities. Students who studied in Kannada medium are more confident than those who study in English medium,” he said.
Gangolli gram panchayat president Srinivas Kharvi unfurled the national flag and Kannada Sahitya Parishat Kundapur unit president Dr Umesh Putran hoisted the Parishad flag. Kundapur DySP Belliappa set in motion the rally of Bhuvaneshwari Devi and the conference at Gangolli Rama Mandir.
Campco president Kishore Kumar Kodgi, sammelana committee secretary U S Shenoy, college principal Kavita A C, parishad Udupi district honorary secretary Narendra Kumar Kota, honorary treasurer Manohar P, Karkala taluk parishad president Prabhakar Shetty Kondalli, Brahmavar taluk parishad president Ramachandra Aithal, Byndoor taluk parishad president Dr Raghu Naik, taluk parishad honorary secretary Akshata Girish and others were present.
Sammelana president Shivananda Karanth released printed books on the occasion. Students from various schools, Kunita Bhajana teams, Chende Vadana, Dharmastala Gramabhivridhi project students, members of various organizations took part in the rally.
Kundapur taluk parishat president Umesh Putran welcomed. Udupi district parishat president Neelavara Surendra Adiga spoke about his aspirations. Author Belagodu Ramesh Bhat introduced the president of the Sammelana. Welcome committee president H Ganesh Kamath introduced the inaugurator. Umesh Kunder conducted the programme. Honorary secretary Dinakar R Shetty compered the programme. Honorary treasurer Manjunath K S rendered a vote of thanks.