Sahitya Sammelana ends sans controversies

World Kannada meet to be held in Belgaum next February

For three days, the sleepy town of Gadag saw Kannada literary stalwarts discuss on various subjects, including Kannada filmdom, federal system, agriculture, women's problems, Karnataka's environment, folklore, and others.  The book exhibition at the Sammelana was also a hit, with book lovers thronging nearly 100 book stalls put up at the venue.

Resolutions passed

Earlier in the day on Sunday, the Sammelana passed three resolutions. The first one was to pressure the government to provide permanent solution to the flood situation haunting various districts in the State every year.

The second was to exert pressure on the government to implement all the resolutions of the past 75 Sammelanas, a majority of which are yet to be implemented.

It was also decided to form a ‘resolution implementation committee’ in the Kannada Sahitya Parishat (KSP) to see that the resolutions were implemented. Addressing the valedictory, Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa announced that the second Vishwa Kannada Sammelana would be held in Belgaum in February 2011.

He also announced that Rs 25 crore would be sanctioned for the development of Gadag City in next three years, and Rs five crore would be released for the construction of Gadag District Sahitya Bhavan in memory of the Sammelana held here. He also instructed the authorities concerned to start the Bhavan construction work immediately and to complete the works within a year.

Rehabilitation works

He said construction of new houses for the flood-affected people and relocation of flood-hit villages would be completed before the commencement of the next year. Attempts would be made to tide over the power crisis in the State by purchasing power from other States, and by generating 5,000 MW of power in the State in coming days, he said.

"The State government has urged the Centre to sanction all facilities required for the development of Kannada as the language has been accorded the classical language status. The State government has also taken steps to protect Kannada land, language, and culture," Yeddyurappa added. The CM also promised to make honest efforts to implement the resolutions passed by the Sahitya Sammelana.

District in-charge Minister B Sriramulu, PWD Minister C M Udasi, Leader of Opposition in Assembly S Siddaramaiah, former minister K H Patil, Sammelana President Geeta Nagabhushan, literary critic C P Krishnakumar and Kannada Sahitya Parishat president Nallur Prasad R K were present on the occasion.