Individuals should be liberal enough to appreciate the good work of others, said litterateur and thinker H Ramesh Kedilaya.

Addressing students after inaugurating ‘Kala Sangam,’ an inter-collegiate art festival at Govind Dasa College in Surathkal on Thursday, he said people are going too cynic in appreciating others, just by thinking that the other person will ‘simply’ feel happy.

“It is such a ridiculous fact that people do not want to make others happy,” he remarked.

Mr Kedilaya said students studying in arts faculty need not feel inferior to others regarding their future prospects, as talent in every individual is inert and original. “Arts is the only subject that combines past, present and future,” he noted.

Vidyadayini Educational Institutions Secretary Giridhar Hatwar presided.

Vice-Principal Prof Radha Vittal and the fest co-ordinator Violet Miranda were present. Competitions like write & recite, desh prem, collage, on-the-spot reporting and folk dance were conducted, in which around 14 colleges took part.