Balavana to host art camps

Paintings based on Shivaram Karanths novels to be created

The famous Balavana at Puttur in Dakshina Kannada district, where Jnanpith awardee Kota Shivaram Karanth lived for more than 40 years, is all set to host a series of art camps that would focus on the works of the great writer.

The Balavana, which was named so by Karanth, will be a hub of activity after several years as no significant programmes have been held there for a long time. The initiative to hold the art camps has been taken up by  Prasanna, who recently took charge as assistant commissioner of Puttur sub-division.

Speaking to Deccan Herald, Prasanna said that he, along with a few like-minded people, decided to organise three to four art camps based on Karanth’s works during January and February. The first such camp will be held at Balavana from January 25 to January 29, wherein well-known artistes from all over the State - from Bidar, Dakshina Kannada, Gulbarga, Mysore and Bangalore - will take part.

According to the plan, each artist will have a lengthy discussion with a writer who has studied Karanth’s novels before creating paintings based on these novels.

The 15 paintings, that would be drawn based on Karanth’s novels, would be kept on display at Balavana, as a tribute to the literary genius, Prasanna said.

The novels selected for the first camp include ‘Chigurida Kanasu,’ ‘Mai Managala Suliyalli,’ ‘Aala-Niraala,’ ‘Mookajjiya Kanasugalu,’ ‘Chomana Dudi,’ ‘Bettada Jeeva,’ ‘Kudiyara Koosu,’ ‘Audaryada Urulalli,’ ‘Alida Mele’ and ‘Sarasammana Samaadhi’ among others. The artists who will take part in the camp include Mohan Sonangeri, Chandranath Acharya, M S Murthy, Khande Rao, S G Vasudev and Ramesh Rao among others.

Plans are on the anvil to organise another camp exclusively for children; to develop Balavana, spread over 6.5 acres; to upgrade the library and to organise art film shows at Balavana during weekends.

“At present, there is nothing much in Balavana, which can give one a clear picture of Karanth. The aim is to make Balavana a tourist centre. The visitor, before leaving the Balavana premises, should be able to understand at least five per cent of what Karanth was,” he added.

Karanth, who contributed immensely to children’s literature, had called the place Balavana, a children’s park, so that it would be a place for children to explore and nourish their talents. But, nothing significant has been done at Balavana to benefit them.