Committee to hold parallel Dasara poets' meet

A parallel Dasara poets’ meet will be held in protest against the Madikeri Dasara Committee for not allocating funds for the multi-lingual poets’ symposium.

Dasara Poets’ Meet Committee chairman Aithichanda Ramesh Uttappa has declared so on Thursday.

He told reporters in Madikeri that the poets’ meet will register its disappointment by organising a parallel meet under the slogan ‘Santrastarige Santwana – Bandavarige Tanniru’ (solace to flood victims and cold water for invitees).

“In spite of receiving Rs 50 lakh from the government, the Committee went ahead and shelved the Dasara sports’ meet as well as the poets’ meet.
The decision has pained both sports talents and writers,” said Uttappa.The decision to organise a parallel meet was taken at an emergency meeting convened by the committee on Thursday, said Uttappa.

He has appealed to writers to participate in large numbers.Thus 25 to 30 poets will be invited to the poets’ meet that is being planned for organisation at the Bal Bhavan. “The poets will recite their poems in different languages to pacify flood-affected people. The members in the audience and the poets will both receive cold water,” Uttappa added.

Writer Nagesh Kaluru, a flood victim, will chair the meet. Another flood victim Kudekal Santhosh will inaugurate the multi-lingual poets’ meet. Deputy Commission P I Sreevidya and Working Journalists’ Association president Savita Rai will be the chief guests, he informed.

Uttappa urged the Madikeri Dasara Committee to make public the expenses incurred during Dasara celebrations. “Out of the total grant of Rs 50 lakh, about Rs 20 lakh was spent on 10 ‘mantapas’, Rs 6 lakh on four ‘Karagas’ and Rs 10 lakh towards stage decorations. What about the rest of the 25% grants?” he asked.“The decision by the Madikeri Dasara Committee to cancel the poets’ meet is a gesture of discouraging budding poets,” he added.

Samiti general secretary M N Nasir, members Kishor Rao, Vighnesh Bhutanakadu, Manoj and Samiti former president Kudekal Santhosh were present in the press meet.