Kuvempu Kalagrama to champion poet's oeuvre

To ensure better reach for the literary works of Jnanpith awardee Kuppali Venkatappa Puttappa (Kuvempu), Kuppali-based Rashtrakavi Kuvempu Prathistana will create a cultural centre named after ‘The Poet of the Era’ in Bengaluru.

The prathistana has bagged 30,000 sq ft of land from BDA in Sir M Visvesvaraya Layout on a 30-year lease for Rs 1.05 crore.

Tentatively named ‘Kuvempu Kalagrama’, will organise ‘mantra mangalya’ wedding ceremonies to popularise the humble practice in the Old Mysuru region.

The mantra mangalya wedding was championed by Kuvempu himself. The practice was proposed against lavish expenditure, dowry and the many extravagant rituals of marriage, followed by people even today.

Expenses for a mantra mangalya wedding does not exceed Rs 3,000.

“We will construct an auditorium with a capacity to seat 300 people, where plays and literary works of Kuvempu can be showcased. Probably in June we will start the construction of a library, an audio-visual room and a photo gallery on Kuvempu and his son, novelist Poornachandra Tejaswi, to promote Kuvempu’s vision in the modern world,” Kadidal Prakash, joint secretary of Kuvempu Prathistana, told DH.