'Preserve folk arts'

Folk arts are in the verge of vanishing due to modernisation. There is need to protect and conserve it and every one should make an effort toward it,” said Prof Kodirangappa of the Government College of Education.

He spoke at a programme on cultural and folk songs, organised by the Ananya Kala Ranga Vedike and the Department of Kannada and Culture, at M V Memorial School.

“Earlier, elderly persons in the family made it a point to teach folk songs and stories and art to children and acquaintances. This made the next generation carry forward these arts. But now the number of people teaching others this art has reduces considerably. 

There is also dearth of people who are interested in learning it,” he said. “If the there is no bridge between immediate generations, folk arts may die down. If slowly there is no one to take up the challenge to learn it or to teach it, folk arts will join the pages of history which cannot be brought to life,” he lamented.

M Madegowda, Assistant Director of Department of Kannada and Culture; S D Venkatesh, convener of Dalit Sangharsh Samiti also spoke.