Rons Bantwal
Mumbai, Apr 7: "Literature is that which works to connect society and the minds of people. True literature fosters unity and adjustment among people, creating inspiration and a heartbeat within the masses," said Justice B N Srikrishna, retired judge of the Supreme Court of India.
He was delivering a special lecture on 'The Need and Importance of Literature in the Present Times' at the Kavivarya Kusumagraj Marathi Bhasha Bhavan, University of Mumbai. The event was jointly organized by the Department of Kannada, University of Mumbai, and Devadiga Sangha Mumbai. The occasion also marked the 48th anniversary of the Kannada department and the release of 12 books authored by Prof G N Upadhya, head of the Kannada department.
Literature as a guide to righteousness Justice Srikrishna further noted, "Literature teaches us to follow a righteous path, sometimes directly and sometimes through satire. It teaches us to avoid conflict and harm to others, seeking the welfare of all. That which is neither beneficial nor moderate cannot be called literature. The Ramayana, written in various languages, effectively communicates humanity, Dharma, and social welfare. Today, more than ever, there is a dire need to read such literature and implement its values in life."
Chief guest Dr Bharat Kumar Polipu, theatre expert and president of Karnataka Sangha Mumbai, opined, "Literature should always make our conscience bloom and inspire us to understand ourselves. A writer is a product of society; their writing should not only develop them personally but also help the reader transform into a better human being."
Preserving the Kannada legacy in his introductory remarks, Prof G N Upadhya described the event as a cultural dialogue. "The work of building Kannada must be continuous. We should take pride in being heirs to a great tradition. Kannada possesses a long literary and cultural history that many other languages do not. Continuous dialogue regarding our language and literature is essential," he said.
Former presidents of Devadiga Sangha Mumbai, Dharmapal U Devadiga and Hiriadka Mohandas, were present on the dais. Dr Poornima S Shetty, Kala Bhagwat, Anita Poojary Takode, Pratibha Rao, and Savita Arun Shetty shared their insights on the released books.
On the occasion, Dr Y V Madhusudhana Rao was honored with the 'Vikas Pustaka' award. Vikram Joshi, recipient of the late M B Kukyan gold medal, was also felicitated. Pushpalata Gowda, a student of the department, presented a special collection titled 'Sahitya Shatagranthakara - Prof G N Upadhya' to the department.
Dr Poornima Sudhakara Shetty, assistant professor in the Kannada department, compered the programme and rendered the vote of thanks.