The unification of Karnataka is not a emotional issue alone but is in tandem with  historical, social, economic and other issues, said Dr B Sheikh Ali, former vice chancellor of Mangalore and Goa Universities.

Speaking at the seminar on the Karnataka’s unification objectives and challenges organised by Tumkur University at its PG study centre, Sheikh Ali who inaugurated the seminar said that every Indian heart is basically inclined towards  philosophical thinking and  always wishes for the good of the world. Even history is bearing proof to this, he said on Tuesday.

History is a indivisible of part of human existence, one who forgets history cease to be a human, he said. A person who is not aware of his country’s culture and history can't contribute anything to his country, he declared.

Blessed State

Karnataka in many ways is a blessed State. It is a State which has beautiful hilllocks and had world famous kings who ruled over it. In addition to this it has culturally vibrant places, described Sheikh Ali.

Speaking about a foreign painter Robert Bruce, Sheikh Ali said that the painter had visited the State way back in 1824 and had toured the State including Tumkur and Chitradurga. He said that Bruce in his book had mentioned about the culture of stone age man in SouthIndia. All this proves that Karnataka has a long and charismatic history besides remarkable traditions, he added.

During the reign of Britishers Karnataka was divided into many parts and as a result Kannada speakers were scattered. But unification once again reunified the Kannada speakers, he said. There was strong vision of overall development of the state during the reunification, he added.

There is a need for discussion to ascertain whether unification objectives have been achieved or not , said Sheikh Ali who opined that Universities are not factories which manufacture degrees but they are a creative process through which seeds of new culture is sown in the students with their excellent education, he summed up.

Freedom fighter and Gandhian H S Doreswamy opined that the expectations and the objectives of the unification has not been achieved even after the five decades of unification. Explaining various steps in the unification Doreswamy said that the Kannada speaking  people had lot of expectations from the states’ reorganisation.

Tumkur University vice chancellor Dr O Anantaramaiah who presided over the seminar explained the importance of the unification of Karnataka and the importance of land and the language.

He hoped that the unity present now among the people lasts for ever. The vice chancellor later felicitated scholars from varying backgrounds.

Usha Suresh, Dr Suresh, Dr Suryanath Kamath, Prof Pratibha Channappa, Prof M V Srinivas, Prof Rajanna, Prof G M Srinivasaiah, Prof Vaikuntam and others were present in the two day seminar which concluded on Tuesday.