On Sankranti, 'Modala Mettilu' hits stands

Writer Hampa Nagarajaiah (Hampana) on Saturday asserted that Kannada literature should transcend boundaries as people in different nations too looking for best of the literary works.

He was speaking after releasing ‘Modala Mettilu,’ a collection of articles that includes prefaces and opinions written by former vice-chancellor of Hampi Kannada University Prof B A Viveka Rai and published by Akruthi Ashaya Publications.

Hampana said whenever he went to international level plenums, there was a similar demand from the literary lovers to access Kannada literary works. Most of the other language worksare accessible here. But it is not on the expected lines in the case of Kannada literature, he observed.

“It is not just the duty of those associated with literature. Such tasks should be taken up by persons like Viveka Rai,” Hampana said.

On the contribution of Rai to literature, he said, “Though Rai wrote less, they were more of quality, that is essential for the growth of literature.”

Hampana, who applauded Rai for his profound contribution to folklore, drew parallel with late De Javare Gowda who had enormously contributed to folklore.

Pampa, Yehudi next

Earlier revealing his future plans, Rai said, “I am gleaning materials on Aadikavi Pampa aiming for a detailed work on the litterateur of yore, followed by another on Yehudi culture, as a man from the same tribe had migrated to Mangaluru in 14th century, married and lived here for 17 years. Now, most of the Yehudis are found in Cochin in the neighbouring Kerala, where I came across two books on Yehudis.”

However, Rai who was unsure about when his future projects seeing the light of the day, owed it to his busy schedule, ever since he started as a lecturer in 1970.