'Odu baa, baraha bhandara' library launch on Aug 5

Under the aegis of the city-based Swaroopa Adhyayana Kendra, advocate and social activist Dinesh Hegde Uleppadi will launch ‘Odu baa, baraha bhandara’ library to encourage reading and writing habits among children.

Addressing media persons in Mangaluru on Thursday, Dinesh Hegde said that idea behind the project is to create an active group of writers along with book enthusiasts. The library will be based at Swaroopa Adhyayana Kendra, opposite to BEM School, Basel Mission Road. There are plans to extend the library in future, he said.

The library will be inaugurated by Kannada and Culture Minister Jayamala, at a programme to be held in Sri Sudhindra auditorium at Canara Girls’ High School, Dongarakeri, Mangaluru, on August 8. Former minister Krishna J Palemar, Mangaluru Mayor Bhaskar K, Kannada Sahitya Parishat former president Harikrishna Punaroor, Bantwal Block Education Officer N Shivaprakash, Kannada Pradhikara vigilance committee member Chidambar Baikampadi, traditional healer Dr Eldo M G and writer and artiste Gururaja Marpalli will attend.

A book ‘Swaroopa Shiskhana’ will be released.

Dinesh further said that along with reading the books and periodicals, the children can also develop writing skills. Compared to the number of readers, the number of writers is very less. The ‘Odu Baa’ aims at increasing the number of skilled writers. Along with children, even the elders are welcome to be the part of the movement. Children will start writing on their own experiences. Experts will guide the amateur writers. The Baraha bhandara will act as a syndicate by circulating the articles. There are plans to published a weekly containing these write-ups and to bring out a book comprising the articles.

“A workshop on writing skills has already been conducted in this regard.

The books and other equipment will be collected from donors. Children can send Kannada, English and Hindi write-ups to: Swaroopa Adhyanana Kendra, Kodialbail, Mangaluru - 3 or [e-mail]