Jnanapith awardee Dr U R Ananthamurthy, on Monday called upon journalists to understand the vitality of Indian democracy. People from different backgrounds, from different lifestyles and different castes have enjoyed high posts and that is because of vibrant democracy of the country, he said, after inaugurating a one day workshop ‘Karnataka Avalokana,’ organised for journalists in Bangalore on Monday.

Ananthamurthy said that Deve Gowda, Veerappa Moily and Siddaramaiah have all come from socially backward and economically weaker sections. However, they enjoyed power because of democracy.

“India is different from other countries because of its vibrant democracy. Pakistan is facing trouble every now and then because it does not have the kind of leaders India does”, he said, and asked journalists to be critical of the system as well.

The writer said that knowledge of the local language is a must for journalists. English newspapers in Karnataka should appoint those who know Kannada, or make those appointed learn the language.

“If a journalist cannot communicate with rural people of the State with the language they know, he or she is not doing justice to the profession,” he stated.

Misinterpreted

Speaking about the media’s reaction to former Prime Minister Deve Gowda’s statement that he should not have been born in Karnataka, Ananthamurthy said that Gowda’s statement should not have been treated as a negative remark on the State.

“Gowda made that statement with deep disappointment. There was a scope for a detailed analysis. But the press missed that,” he said.

The Karnataka Media Academy, in association with Tourism and Kannada and Culture Department had organised the workshop, to mark the silver jubilee celebrations of the academy.

Kannada and Culture department secretary I M Vittalamurthy said that the workshop was planned to sensitise young journalists on the cultural and social heritage of the State.