Kuvempu theme at Lalbagh moves daughter to tears

Floral tributes

Scores of people gathered to catch a glimpse of a model of their favourite poet and writer Rashtrakavi Kuvempu sitting on his chair outside his ‘floral’ house at the Galss House. Many also choked with emotion and pride when they saw a replica of Kavishaila and his memorial.

The horticulture department has themed this year’s Independence Day flower show at Lalbagh Botanical Garden around Kuvempu to mark 50 years of the poet being conferred the Jnanpith, the highest literary award of the country. The 11-day show was inaugurated by Governor Vajubhai Vala. This is the 206th show at Lalbagh.

The poet’s daughter K P Tarini Chidananda who was present at the inaugural session became emotional. In a choked voice, she said: “I used to frequent Lalbagh with my father when I was a child. Nothing much has changed here since 1985.’’

With tears welling up in her eyes, Tarini said she is emotional to see the honour being conferred on her father. “More than that, I am proud,’’ she said.

“We were like a group of children. It would be me, my siblings and Marigowda’s children playing around in Lalbagh. It is like every thing has come back to me again.’’ The late M H Marigowda was the director of Lalbagh and is credited with developing the garden post Independence.

She recollected that there was no subject in which he had no interest and there was no flower or plant which he did not like. He even loved his cactus plants. He would never hesitate to travel distances to get a particular plant which he had learnt about or help someone procure it. He also helped the department and Marigowda bring many plants to Lalbagh. He loved flora and fauna and not many know that he had immense knowledge of this, Tarini said.

While Tarini controlled her tears, Tamala, Kuvempu’s granddaughter could not hold back hers. “The chair and his posture are just the way he used to sit and watch us. It is so real. It feels so nice to see the love people have for him,” she said.

Tough time for police

Police had a tough time controlling the crowd taking selfies and photographs of the models, Kuvempu’s writeups and cutouts at Lalbagh. The sculpture on Kavishaila with engravings of the titles B M Shree, Venkannaiah, Poornachandra Tejaswi and Kuvempu mesmerised every one.

“I have been coming here for the past 50 years, but this year’s flower show is the best. I have not been to Kuppalli. But now, after seeing this, I will go there tonight. Seeing an artistic representation of Kuvempu sitting on the chair seems so real, as if he is watching and creating a poem or a drama on us,” said Saravana, a senior citizen.

The floral arches outside the Glass House with a photograph of Kuvempu and the photograph gallery were also the highlights. A book on flowers titled Pushpa Geethe, penned by Kuvempu was also released on the occasion.