'Parishat should be financially independent'

Speaking at the ‘Meet the Press’ organised by Press Club in Bangalore, Venkatasubbaiah said participation of politicians in the event became inevitable because the Parishat depends on the government for financial support. He said when he took over as president of the Parishat in 1964, the parishat’s bank balance was nil. He had to seek financial assistance from the government. Then finance minister Ramakrishna Hegde released Rs 25,000 for the Parishat.

“Many people including poet and writer D V Gundappa opposedParishat accepting funds from the government. Today I feel, I should have not accepted money from the government. At least in future the parishat should conduct events on its own,” he said.

The 77th Kannada Sahitya Sammelana in Bangalore, has planned the inaugural day procession of Sammelanadhyaksha on the lines of Jambusavari of Dasara celebrations in Mysore. Probably, for the first time in the history of Kannada Sahitya Sammelanas, elephants and camels are taking part in the procession.

Prof G Venkatasubbaiah, president of the Sammelana, will be carried in a specially designed chariot on Friday. The procession begins at Hudson Circle and passes through J C Road, Pampa Mahakavi Road, Makkala Koota to reach the National College grounds.

Kannada Rakshana Vedike headed by T A Narayana Gowda has been entrusted with the responsibility to organise the procession. In the previous years, the president was normally carried either in an open jeep or a tractor. This time, a special vehicle will be designed such that it would be pulled by four horses. “The design resembles the chariot, from where Lord Sri Krishna preached Bhagavadgeeta,” Narayana Gowda said.

The procession would involve four elephants, six camels and 10 horses. Artists dressed as past rulers of Karnataka will be riding on these animals.

“Our objective is to make all Bangaloreans get the feel of the celebrations. Whoever witnesses the procession should feel proud of Kannada culture and history,” Gowda said.

A tableau carrying an idol of Bhuvaneshwari will be the special attraction of the procession. Statues of Nalvadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar, who was instrumental in setting up Kannada Sahitya Parishat and Kempe Gowda, the erstwhile ruler of Bangalore, will be part of the procession. |

In procession

*  Tableaux depicting glory of past rulers of the State
*  40 folk art troupes
*  People in costumes of rulers
*  A specially designed chariot to carry Prof G Venkatasubbaiah|