Mysuru Police band performs during the valedictory of 87th Kannada Sahitya Sammelana, in Mandya, on Sunday.
Credit: Special arrangement
Mysuru: The 87th Akhila Bharatha Kannada Sahitya Sammelana came to an end with experts, writers and poets taking part in diverse sessions, during the three-day event, at sugar town Mandya, on Sunday.
A decision was taken to hold the 88th Akhila Bharatha Kannada Sahitya Sammelana in Ballari, next year.
Six resolutions were passed stressing the state government for implementation of Kannada Bhasha Samagra Abhivruddi Adhiniyama (KBSAA), appoint Kannada Sahitya Parishat president as vice president of state level committee for effective implementation of KBSAA, handle court cases related to jobs for Kannadigas, implement Sarojini Maharshi report, to declare ‘Rashtra Kavi’ soon and hold 'Vishwa Kannada Sahitya Sammelana' at Davanagere.
More than six lakh people took part in the three-day event, with Mandya literally decked up in hues of yellow and red, symbolising the Kannada flag.
A lot of events were organised to provide a literary feast along with a cultural and culinary feast for those attending the event. A variety of dishes were served to the participants, with more than 350 cooks and 950 helpers working round the clock.
Achievers of various fields were felicitated on the third day of the festival, as part of the Suvarna Karnataka Sambhrama.
Writer C P Krishnakumar delivered a valedictory address. Despite the celebration of Suvarna Karnataka there are numerous challenges and ‘Kanglish’ has become a problem in Karnataka. No enthusiasm is shown towards Kannada regardless of the governments, he opined.
Union Minister H D Kumaraswamy felt that Kannada schools are not getting encouragement from the governments. The parents tend to send their wards to English medium schools thinking about their future. “I tried to start a Public School and I seek apology for it to sammelana chairperson Go Ru Channabasappa”, he said.
Chairman of the Karnataka Legislative Council Basavaraj Horatti directed Kannada Sahitya Sammelan chairperson Mahesh Joshi to inform about bringing the resolutions to the notice of the government. He also alleged that no effort is being taken to develop Kannada schools. Replying, District incharge Minister N Chaluvarayaswamy said that they would meet the Chief Minister to discuss the resolutions in four days.
Non-veg food
There were heated arguments between a group of people and the police when they tried to distribute non-vegetarian food on the premises. Police took the non-veg food into their custody. When the people raised slogans against it, the Police asked them not to distribute it in public places. They directed them to a separate place, where the food was distributed.
Cultural troupes
More than 200 cultural troupes from across the state took part in the sammelana, entertaining the crowd. The cultural events were held at Ambedkar Bhavan, Yakshagana, social and historical plays and other programmes were held at Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar Kalamandira.
More than 350 commercial stalls were erected selling ready-made garments, jaggery, food grains, eatables, and others. There were around 55 stalls highlighting government schemes.