Basavaraj Horatti, Chairman of Legislative Council, speaking at the valedictory function of the 87th Akhila Bharata Kannada Sahitya Sammelana, in Mandya on Sunday.
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
The three-day 87th Akhila Bharata Kananda Sahitya Sammelana concluded here on Sunday with writers and litterateurs striking a cautionary note on the future of Kannada language.
A set of resolutions was also passed to promote the use of Kannada and ensure its emergence as a language of commerce and transaction in the days ahead.
Kananda scholar C.P. Krishna Kumar who delivered the valedictory address of the sammelana said though territorial or geographical integration of Karnataka took place 70 years ago, it had not led to emotional integration and there were several challenges plaguing Kannada language.
Citing Kavirajamarga, a 9th century treatise in Kannada on poetics, Prof. Krishna Kumar said the boundary of the land of Kannadigas extended from Cauvery to Godavari but the situation was such in present times one had to struggle to establish its boundary.
He said Kannada had a history of 2,000 years and a literary tradition which was more than 1,000 years old and the culture of the State was rooted in the language.
Yet, it was regrettable that English was being promoted in educational institutions when teaching in mother tongue (Kannada) could lead to better comprehension and deeper connection to culture. While there was no need to despise either English or any other language, primacy had to be accorded to Kannada as it enshrined the culture of the State, said Prof. Krishna Kumar.
Delving on the challenges ahead for Kananda, he said while successive governments had lacked commitment to promote Kananda, there was also a lack of pride or interest in the language among Kannadigas themselves.
Chairman of the Legislative Council Basavaraj Horatti said it was not enough to spend crores of rupees and organise Kannada sahitya sammelanas unless the resolutions were implemented.
He called upon the Kannada Sahitya Parishat president Mahesh Joshi to submit the resolutions to the Chief Minister and ensure that they were implemented.
“When the next conference is held in Ballari, make it a point to list out the number of resolutions that have been passed and how many of them have been implemented by the government,” said Mr. Horatti.
Mahesh Joshi, who announced that the 88th Akhila Bharata Kannada Sahitya Sammelana, would be held in Ballari, touched upon the contribution of Kannada Sahitya Parishat in promoting Kannada.
Mandya district in charge Minister N. Cheluvarayaswamy said the conference was a great success and had set a record in terms of number of people who attended.
He claimed that over two lakh people have attended the conference on each of the three days and the total number of attendees of the three-day sammelana was six lakh.
Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel H.D. Kumaraswamy, Go. Ru. Channabasappa, who presided over the 87th conference, Swami Nirmalanandanatha of Adi Chunchanagiri Mutt and others were present.
Published – December 22, 2024 09:38 pm IST