<p>A colourful procession led by cultural troupes had girl students carrying earthern pots (kumbha) in the front -- starting from Ramaswamy circle, while Kambara stood with his wife and family members in an open jeep. The procession reached its cresendo as the venue got closer and the energetic beat of drums travelled to almost all corners of the college.<br /><br />He and wife Satyabhama were also felicitated on the occasion. Addressing the audience, Kambara, in his inaugural address said he was humbled to receive such an honour in the city of Rashtrakavi and another Jnanapith awardee Kuvempu, who defined the University of Mysore. “Kuvempu’s poetry was the strongest. According to me, he comes immediately after Rabindranath Tagore. He always beleived life should be reflected in poetry. We should write in a way that people can understand it, not to discourage them from savouring literature,” he added.<br /><br />Deciphering the literature of Kuvempu further, Kambara said he demolished the earlier set forms of literature and built something on his own. His grammar was fresh and entirely different from literature that depended on Vedas, Upanishads and adhered to ‘chandassu’.<br /><br />Expressing his concern about the growing love for English language, Kambara said Indians had come to love that language more passionately after the British left the country. “During the struggle for independence, we stood to hate everything that had English flavour. But, after we were freed from their shackles, we began to suffer from deep inferiority complex about everything Indian,” he added. <br /><br />The ‘slavery’ of mind continued to such an extent that we even started following western models in literature. “Classical, modern, abstract or neo-classical -- we wrote whatever they did. Today we don’t have set models because nothing new is emerging in the west too,” he added.<br /><br />Giving a clarion call to the youngsters to study folklore, Kambara said ‘Desi’ would get some fresh lease of life if younger generation took it up for studying. District incharge minister Ramdas, Mayor Pushpalatha Chikkanna, Deputy Mayor Ravikumar, ZP President Suneetha Veerappagowda, University of Mysore Registrar B Ramu, Dr A Rangaswamy of KSOU, MLCs Madhusudhan and Thontadarya were present on the occasion. <br /><br />All wanted him!<br />Just as the procession carrying Kambara came close to Maharaja Centenary Hall, mayor Pushpalatha Chikkanna, deputy mayor Ravi, ZP president Suneetha Veerappa Gowda, and vice-president Shivaram left the hall in a hurry. Reason: A mysterious phone call that summoned them to Devaraja Market for a Dasara event, which was suspected to be by minister Ramdas.<br /><br /> When they returned to the hall, Rangaswamy was delivering keynote address and the guests including Kambara were seated on the dais. It didn’t seem to embarrass the minister and his coterie. The organisers kept giving out contradictory statements as to how Kambara was invited for the event. While, one said Kambara’s name was finalised even before Jnanapith was announced, by MLC Madhusoodhan, the other said it was Ramdas who wanted Kambara to open the meet. On his part, as usual, Ramdas simply guffawed while Madhusoodhan chose to let out a meaningful smile.</p>
<p>A colourful procession led by cultural troupes had girl students carrying earthern pots (kumbha) in the front -- starting from Ramaswamy circle, while Kambara stood with his wife and family members in an open jeep. The procession reached its cresendo as the venue got closer and the energetic beat of drums travelled to almost all corners of the college.<br /><br />He and wife Satyabhama were also felicitated on the occasion. Addressing the audience, Kambara, in his inaugural address said he was humbled to receive such an honour in the city of Rashtrakavi and another Jnanapith awardee Kuvempu, who defined the University of Mysore. “Kuvempu’s poetry was the strongest. According to me, he comes immediately after Rabindranath Tagore. He always beleived life should be reflected in poetry. We should write in a way that people can understand it, not to discourage them from savouring literature,” he added.<br /><br />Deciphering the literature of Kuvempu further, Kambara said he demolished the earlier set forms of literature and built something on his own. His grammar was fresh and entirely different from literature that depended on Vedas, Upanishads and adhered to ‘chandassu’.<br /><br />Expressing his concern about the growing love for English language, Kambara said Indians had come to love that language more passionately after the British left the country. “During the struggle for independence, we stood to hate everything that had English flavour. But, after we were freed from their shackles, we began to suffer from deep inferiority complex about everything Indian,” he added. <br /><br />The ‘slavery’ of mind continued to such an extent that we even started following western models in literature. “Classical, modern, abstract or neo-classical -- we wrote whatever they did. Today we don’t have set models because nothing new is emerging in the west too,” he added.<br /><br />Giving a clarion call to the youngsters to study folklore, Kambara said ‘Desi’ would get some fresh lease of life if younger generation took it up for studying. District incharge minister Ramdas, Mayor Pushpalatha Chikkanna, Deputy Mayor Ravikumar, ZP President Suneetha Veerappagowda, University of Mysore Registrar B Ramu, Dr A Rangaswamy of KSOU, MLCs Madhusudhan and Thontadarya were present on the occasion. <br /><br />All wanted him!<br />Just as the procession carrying Kambara came close to Maharaja Centenary Hall, mayor Pushpalatha Chikkanna, deputy mayor Ravi, ZP president Suneetha Veerappa Gowda, and vice-president Shivaram left the hall in a hurry. Reason: A mysterious phone call that summoned them to Devaraja Market for a Dasara event, which was suspected to be by minister Ramdas.<br /><br /> When they returned to the hall, Rangaswamy was delivering keynote address and the guests including Kambara were seated on the dais. It didn’t seem to embarrass the minister and his coterie. The organisers kept giving out contradictory statements as to how Kambara was invited for the event. While, one said Kambara’s name was finalised even before Jnanapith was announced, by MLC Madhusoodhan, the other said it was Ramdas who wanted Kambara to open the meet. On his part, as usual, Ramdas simply guffawed while Madhusoodhan chose to let out a meaningful smile.</p>
