New generation of writers experimenting with various formats, reaching readers: Writer Meghana Sudheendra at Kannada Sahitya Sammelana

'Many are writing to relieve work pressure. They are courageous enough to express their agendas. They are finding the right readers and ensuring they are reaching common people in different formats, including even audio formats,' the writer said.

Mysuru: The new generation of writers have not just succeeded in experimenting with different formats of writing and generating content relevant for today's age, but have also succeeded in reaching readers through various modes of publication, including via social media, said writer Meghana Sudheendra on Sunday.

She was speaking at a session on new generation literature on the third day of the 87th Akhila Bharatha Kannada Sahitya Sammelana in Mandya on Sunday.

Meghana also explained that new generation writers are coming with works of science fiction, experiential stories, and are writing about independent personalities of women, their mindsets, problems, relationships, situations.

They are even coming up with write-ups portraying ground realities faced by military veterans and others. But that's not all: the new generation is also writing on history and traditions, translating spritual works, and even translating works in foreign languages such as German and Spanish said the writer.

"Many are writing to relieve work pressure. They are courageous enough to express their agendas. They are finding the right readers and ensuring they are reaching common people in different formats, including even audio formats," she said.

C K Jagadeesha, meanwhile, said that writers have a big role to play in building a healthy, cultured society.

Need separate session for sexual minorities: Akkai Padmashali

At a sesssion on literary forms that need rejuvenation, Akkai Padmashali demanded a seperate session for sexual minorities in future Sahithya Sammelanas. She asserted that more than 25 sexual minorities have written their biographies, and read out poetry by Malavika, a member of a sexually marginalised community.

"People worship Harihara's son Aiyyappa, Ardhanaareeshwara but they keep us away. It is not right to differentiate us. We too are humans and our blood is also red," Padmashali said.

Arun Joladakoodligi, who has written the biography of Manjamma Jogathi based on his interactions with her for over 15 years, explained that biographies can narrate the experiences of marginalised communities better than academic studies.

He added that several biographies written in other languages have been translated to Kannada. However, hardly one percent of Kannada biographies have been translated to other languages, he said.