Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (ANK)
Pic: Spoorthi Ullal
Mangaluru, Nov 3: Some of the top litterateurs of India gathered at TMA Pai International Convention Hall on Saturday, November 3, to discuss ‘The Idea of Bharat’. The two day ‘Mangaluru Lit Fest – 2018’ on the unique theme was organised by Mangaluru Literary Foundation and inaugurated by managing editor of Tushara, Taranga and Tunturu magazines, Sandhya Pai.
In her inaugural address, Pai compared Bharath to a vibrant energy. “Our country has vast culture and tradition of its own. Along with humanity, several religions, customs, traditions have emerged and it is limited to certain boundaries within the region,” she said highlighting the need for the future generations being made aware of the rich culture.
Regretting that the culture, tradition and literature is slowly diminishing, she said literary and other similar fests will prove useful to spread knowledge of our culture among young minds.
Editor of Organiser Prafulla Ketkar said," Idea of Bharath is more about reality and realisation rather than research. ‘Anubava’ and ‘Anubuthi’ are called as Bharath. The idea of Bharath which Nehru came up with was just a research and not a realization of India.”
“Ours is a decentralized society. So are our customs and traditions. One needs to understand the geo-cultural context to understand our traditions in a particular region or community. Without understanding the geo culture context, one cannot understand the traditions followed in Shabarimala. People who are practicing intolerance in the name of tolerance are teaching us to be tolerant,” he said.
He pointed out that British scholars equating dharma to religion which was a big mistake. They treated Hindu dharma as inferior to Semitic religions, he said.
Chairman of NITTE Education Trust Dr N Vinaya Hegde said," It’s good to see young minds join this fest to know what Bharath is. For me Bharath is something that is applicable for 1,000 million people. We would like to build society with happiness and well being and all must lead life with the wealth.”
“One thing that is worrying me today is the thought of hatred being preached. Hatred is being preached on the ground with the politicization of Indian system. Every thought is filled with aggression, violence and negativity. Issue as simple as building a temple for Ram, we have different views which is unfortunate.”
Regarding Shabarimala row, Dr N Vinaya Hegde said," Religious thoughts are individual thoughts; judiciary has no business to interfere in the religious thought process. Supreme Court these days is involving in issues which it should not involve.”
“The lit-fest attempts to showcase the ancient Indian wisdom of peace, brotherhood and universal well being, as envisioned in ‘Udara Charitanam Tu Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’, through intellectual discourse by the finest literary minds from across the globe,” he added.
Saraswati Samman Awardee Padma Shree S L Bhairappa, a doyen in the field of Indian literature, will be felicitated with the Lifetime Achievement Award for his immense contribution towards ‘The Idea of Bharat’.
Mangaluru Lit Fest intends to provide a platform for intellectual deliberations on ‘The Idea of Bharat’. The festival will be a platform for monologues, panel discussions, conversations, book reviews, symposiums, along with book and art exhibition.
On November 3, book release and discussion on 'Your Prime Minister is dead' by Anuj Dhar and 'Jobs crisis in India' by R Jagannathan was held. On November 4, book release and discussion on 'What is Hinduism' - Shefali Vaidhya in conversation with Padma Bhushan Dr David Frawley and 'Kasheera' - Dr Rohinaksha in conversation with Sahana Vijay Kumar will be held.
Prominent litterateurs participating include Rajeev Malhotra, Dr David Frawley, Major Gaurav Arya, R Jagannathan, Madhu Kishwar, Sahana Vijayakumar, Shefali Vaidya, Prakash Belwadi, Vivek Agnihotri, Sandeep Balakrishna, Anand Ranganathan, Chakravarti Sulibele, Rohit Chakratirta, Shaddalu Ranade, Makarand Paranjape and Anirban Ganguly.