Kannada Sahitya Parishat to get its own office

The Kannada Sahitya Parishat, which has been functioning out of a rented office in Chamrajpet, will soon have a dedicated space of its own.

The matter was brought to the fore by MLC Ashwath Narayana during the unveiling of the Kuvempu statue at the Freedom Park on Monday. 

The legislator, who was instrumental in lobbying for the installation of the statue, said: “The Parishat has been functioning out of a rented office in Chamrajpet and urgently needs a place of its own to continue its activities. It will be a boon to the Kannada writers.”

Responding within minutes, Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda said that the government will provide assistance to set up the Kannada Sahitya Bhavan in the City. 

“MLC M R Doreswamy has already told us that there is a piece of land available next to their college, which could be utilised for the setting up of the Bhavan,” he said.

On a lighter note, Sadananda Gowda added that it was the responsibility of legislator Ashwath Narayan and the Parishat’s district secretary to ensure that this project takes off. 

“We, politicians, are used to making promises and vanishing. I hope that the MLC and the district secretary will follow up and ensure funding for the project from the government,” he said.

Kuvempu’s versesSpeaking at the event, Rashtrakavi G S Shivarudrappa said that Kuvempu’s verses and poems were of utmost importance in a society that was ‘troubled’ by problems of corruption, communalism and terrorism. 

“The poet that he was, Kuvempu has also shown us the importance of protecting our environment and not using it indiscriminately to satisfy our needs,” he said. The statue, made of copper, is nine-and-half-foot tall and is estimated to have cost Rs 16 lakh. It was unveiled by Sadananda Gowda