Delivering presidential address at the ‘Alva’s Nudisiri-2010’ on the theme ‘Kannada manasu—jeevana maulyagalu’ (Kannada mind and values of life) organised by the Alva’s Education Foundation at Sundari Anand Alva premises at Vidyagiri in Moodbidri on Friday, she said that there is a need to put a limit to the development work being undertaken.

“There will be no trace of life on earth if rivers dry up. We need to use our natural resources judiciously. Is there a need to protect mega industries by sacrificing our own lives? In the name of development, we are giving away our land, soil, and water. We are bound to face the consequences of the same in future,” she warned.

‘Policy should unite’

Vaidehi said that policies should be framed in such a way that it unites people and not divide them. She said the media should work towards bridging the gap between minds of the people without compromising with their principles in this competitive world.

“The writers, journalists, artists must act responsibly. In the name of religion, people are being assaulted for interacting with the members of other community. Such incidents have made the civilisation to bow head in shame. It is difficult to break out of the clutches of religion, hence there is a need to prevent youth from falling prey the evils of religion,” she said adding that youth are idolising the popular faces appearing in television, endorsing products. “Our youth have lost their minds to the reality shows, forgetting the ground realities of the society,” she added.

‘Fear among women’

Vaidehi opined that women are under constant threat despite they being educated, employed and possessing self confidence. “We have created a situation wherein a woman is unable to walk freely even during the day time,” she lamented. “Those who have respect for women should raise their voice against atrocity being meted at women,” she added.

  Earlier inaugurating Alva’s Nudisiri, litterateur Dr H S Venkateshmurthy said that Kannada mind (Kannada manasu) is ambitious and this ambitious nature of the Kannada mind was portrayed in sculpture, art and literature.

“The Kannada mind is also modest. It is ready to accept the changes and lives harmoniously despite differences in ideology,” he said and added that varieties in Kannada language has made the language diverse and rich.

Earlier welcoming the gathering, Alva’s Education Foundation Chairman Dr M Mohan Alva said that pro Kannada works should take place. Such sammelans should be complementary to Kannada Sahithya Sammelan being organised by the Kannada Sahithya Parishat.

Vaidehi feels giddy

While delivering the 32 page presidential address, Kendra Sahithya Academy Award winner Vaidehi was about to collapse due to giddiness by the end of the speech. However, the last few paras of the speech were later read out by her daughter Nayana Kashyap.