'Karanth made Yakshagana more popular through ballets'

University celebrates Shivaram Karanth's 111th birth anniversary

Dr Shivaram Karanth is a ‘Vishwamanava’ (Global citizen) and is beyond the barriers of caste, creed and politics. His life and ideologies should not be connected to any political themes, said Hampi University former Vice Chancellor Prof B A Vivek Rai. 

He was delivering a special lecture ‘Karantha Namana’ in a programme held to commemorate Jnanpith laureate, litterateur Dr K Shivaram Karanth’s 111th birth anniversary in Mangalagangothri on Thursday. The programme was jointly organised by Dr K Shivarama Karanth Peetha and Dr P Dayanada Pai and P Sathish Pai Yakshagana Study centre of Mangalore University.

Remembering the contributions of Shivaram Karanth to Yakshagana, Prof Rai said that Karanth made Yakshagana more popular through the ballet adaptation of the art. 

His novels like ‘Sarasammana Samadhi’ and ‘Dharmarayana Samsara,’ which have been less discussed, express his revolutionary ideas and are relevant from the perspective of women’s rights to this day, Rai added. Karanath transformed information to useful knowledge by churning out his experiences and rational thoughts, which is his uniqueness. But, he underwent a depression at a time when the society turned communal, he added.

Karanth donated some his articles along with the D.Lit degree to the University’s Dr Shivarama Karanth Peetha during its establishment. 

The D Lit was bestowed upon him by the University during its first convocation in 1993, remembered Prof Rai. “His works reflect his close association with nature and depth of knowledge on it. He associated himself with the lives of tribals through a deep study, equivalent to an empirical research, which he carried out in the villages of Belthangadi, Puttur and surrounding areas before authoring novels ’Chomana Dudi’ and ‘Kudiyara Koosu’. This is evident by the handwritten details noted down by him in a notebook which in the possession of University, being in the very collection,” he said. Lauding the efforts of Mangalore University towards Yakshagana studies, Prof Vivek Rai said that Yakshagana Kendra of University is one of its kind and is on the way towards becoming a model Yakshagana resource centre through the organisation of various demonstrations, seminars, lectures and performances on Yakshagana, by bringing out publications on Yakshagana and by establishing a Yakshagana museum. He meanwhile stressed on the need of a meticulous documentation of Yakshagana timeline and opined that the audio archiving of Yakshagana plays done by the centre has a great significance and added that there is a need of government support in this regard.

In his Keynote address, Mangalore University Dr P Dayanada Pai and P Sathish Pai Yakshagana Study centre Director Dr K Chinnappa Gowda said that Shivaram Karanth, being a wonder of the century, should be understood through his literary works as well as creative experiments in the fields of theatre and Yakshagana. Karanth had visited Mangalore University several times to deliver special lectures, he recalled.

Works on Yakshagana, ‘ Yaksha Tharu,’ ‘Yaksha Kedige,’ ‘Jina Yakshagana Samputa-2,’ and ‘Kota Shivarama Karanathara Yakshagana Chintane mattu prayoga,’ published by Dr P Dayanada Pai and P Sathish Pai Yakshagana Study centre were released on the occasion. Nehru Memorial College (Sullia) Principal and Yakshagana artiste Dr Prabhakar Shishila reviewed the newly released works. 

University Vice Chancellor Prof T C Shivashankar Murthy presided over the programme and inaugurated the ‘Yashamangala’ children’s Yakshagana troupe. Dr K Shivaram Karantha Peetha Director Dr Sabiha, University Registrar Prof P S Yedapadithaya, scholar and Yakshagana critic Dr Raghva Nambiar, Yakshagana Study Centre Assistant Director Dr Rajashree and others were present. 

Artistes of ‘Yakshamangala’ children’s Yakshagana troupe performed a Yakshagana play ‘Krishnaleele’.