<p>Davangere: “We are in a tragic era where speech has become bloodied and inhuman. The forces that corrupt language are flourishing. We must internalise the the language of wisdom to fight against this linguistic corruption,” opined socialist and writer Baraguru Ramachandrappa.</p><p>Speaking at the valedictory of the three-day ‘Rashtriya Akshara Habba’ organised by Davangere Sahitya Vedike and Arasi Sanskrithika Vedike at Bapuji MBA College Auditorium in Davangere on Sunday, Ramachandrappa said our literary culture is facing many crises and challenges. People do not hesitate to say derogatory, inhuman and aggressive words. So, the need of the hour is to create a literary culture where any person does not indulge in shameful writing or venomous speech.</p><p>“We are living in a society divided on the basis of caste, religion, class, and colour. Hatred has become a way of life. The intellectual sphere is also fragmented, and a society of contradictions and opposites has been created, with people acting as spokespeople for political parties. However, we must take on the challenge along with these contradictions,” he said and suggested writers learn to be virtuous even within the crowd.</p><p><strong>No illiterates</strong></p><p>He said, “There are no illiterates in any part of the world as literacy can be written and oral. There is a rich literature in the oral literacy tradition of the common people. It has sown the seeds of true dreams.”</p><p>Ramachandrappa said, “In recent years, literary festivals and events have increased in number but transparency, concept, and central theme are more important for such events. Literature should not be driven by greed. Therefore, I do not participate in festivals held in star hotels."</p><p><strong>Mutated ‘virus’</strong></p><p>Speaking on the occasion, farmer activist Tejaswi Patel said social discrimination seen a few decades back may not be as visible now. However, this virus of discrimination has mutated. Writers must focus on eliminating it.</p><p>“The responsibility that writers took during the freedom struggle and the Emergency period is not visible today. There is a need to present the ideologies of Buddha, Basava, Gandhi, and Ambedkar in a new way to the people,” Patel opined.</p><p><strong>‘Take dip in book fair’</strong></p><p>Prajavani daily Executive Editor Ravindra Bhat said he was not sure if the Kumbh Mela would lead to the absolution of sins. However, absolution of sins is certain if one immerses in a fair (Mela) of books. There are chances of children getting entangled in ‘artificial intelligence (AI)’ if we do not introduce them to the world of books.</p><p>“Literature and newspapers are not on the list of people’s essential items. There is a need for such literary fests to stress that these are also necessary for life. We need to attract children towards literature. Otherwise, there is a possibility of Kannada losing a large reading audience,” he lamented.</p><p>Kannada Development Authority member Dakshayini Huded, Karnataka State Working Journalists’ Association president Shivanand Tagadur, Kannada Sahitya Academy member K Ramachandrappa, journalist Sadanand Hegde and others were present.</p>
<p>Davangere: “We are in a tragic era where speech has become bloodied and inhuman. The forces that corrupt language are flourishing. We must internalise the the language of wisdom to fight against this linguistic corruption,” opined socialist and writer Baraguru Ramachandrappa.</p><p>Speaking at the valedictory of the three-day ‘Rashtriya Akshara Habba’ organised by Davangere Sahitya Vedike and Arasi Sanskrithika Vedike at Bapuji MBA College Auditorium in Davangere on Sunday, Ramachandrappa said our literary culture is facing many crises and challenges. People do not hesitate to say derogatory, inhuman and aggressive words. So, the need of the hour is to create a literary culture where any person does not indulge in shameful writing or venomous speech.</p><p>“We are living in a society divided on the basis of caste, religion, class, and colour. Hatred has become a way of life. The intellectual sphere is also fragmented, and a society of contradictions and opposites has been created, with people acting as spokespeople for political parties. However, we must take on the challenge along with these contradictions,” he said and suggested writers learn to be virtuous even within the crowd.</p><p><strong>No illiterates</strong></p><p>He said, “There are no illiterates in any part of the world as literacy can be written and oral. There is a rich literature in the oral literacy tradition of the common people. It has sown the seeds of true dreams.”</p><p>Ramachandrappa said, “In recent years, literary festivals and events have increased in number but transparency, concept, and central theme are more important for such events. Literature should not be driven by greed. Therefore, I do not participate in festivals held in star hotels."</p><p><strong>Mutated ‘virus’</strong></p><p>Speaking on the occasion, farmer activist Tejaswi Patel said social discrimination seen a few decades back may not be as visible now. However, this virus of discrimination has mutated. Writers must focus on eliminating it.</p><p>“The responsibility that writers took during the freedom struggle and the Emergency period is not visible today. There is a need to present the ideologies of Buddha, Basava, Gandhi, and Ambedkar in a new way to the people,” Patel opined.</p><p><strong>‘Take dip in book fair’</strong></p><p>Prajavani daily Executive Editor Ravindra Bhat said he was not sure if the Kumbh Mela would lead to the absolution of sins. However, absolution of sins is certain if one immerses in a fair (Mela) of books. There are chances of children getting entangled in ‘artificial intelligence (AI)’ if we do not introduce them to the world of books.</p><p>“Literature and newspapers are not on the list of people’s essential items. There is a need for such literary fests to stress that these are also necessary for life. We need to attract children towards literature. Otherwise, there is a possibility of Kannada losing a large reading audience,” he lamented.</p><p>Kannada Development Authority member Dakshayini Huded, Karnataka State Working Journalists’ Association president Shivanand Tagadur, Kannada Sahitya Academy member K Ramachandrappa, journalist Sadanand Hegde and others were present.</p>
