Andolana Editor Rajashekar Koti is seen releasing the book Chintana Manthana, a collection of articles by senior journalist Krishna Vattam (third from left) at a function organised by District Kannada Sahitya Parishat and Samvahana Publications at JSS Law College in city yesterday. Others seen are (from left) Parishat President M. Chandrashekhar, Mysore District Journalists’ Association President C.K. Mahendra, Star of Mysore Editor-in-Chief K.B. Ganapathy, publisher D.N. Lokappa, Senior journalist Ravindra Bhat and former Mayor Vasu.
Mysore, Sept. 10
Chintana Manthana, a collection of articles penned by senior journalist Krishna Vattam was released at a function organised jointly by Mysore District Kannada Sahitya Parishat and Samvahana Publications at JSS Law College in city yesterday.
Andolana Editor Rajashekar Koti, speaking after releasing the book, said that journalists must have social concern and time sense.
“Merely reporting the events does not make a journalist in its truest sense. A journalist must have concern towards the society and must function for the overall development of the society,” said Koti and added that Vattam has all the qualities required to be a true journalist.
“The previous generation of journalists had immense concern and commitment towards the society they lived in. But the present generation journalists, though are intelligent and enthusiastic, lack the virtues of social concern and commitment,” said Koti and called upon the young crop of journalists to seek guidance from senior journalists like Krishna Vattam.
“Journalists must raise voices on behalf of the oppressed, the downtrodden masses, women and poor farmers,” he said and deplored the tendency of media giving priority only to politics.
“Though a journalist cannot be master of all subjects, most of them pretend to know all. The only journalists with no bad habits and writing being their only addiction are Patil Puttappa and Krishna Vattam,” he added.
Senior journalist Ravindra Bhat, speaking on the occasion, said that Krishna Vattam’s book Chintana Manthana was not just a collection of articles but a chronicle of history and it must be made of part of studies for the journalism students.
Former Mayor Vasu, who received the first copy of the book, said in his address that newspapers must spread legal awareness among their readers.
Kannada Sahitya Parishat President M. Chandrashekhar, speaking on the occasion, said that a Book Fair will soon be started at the Parishat’s premises in Vijayanagar and it would act as a bridge between the writers, publishers and readers.
An information centre of the district’s writers will also be started, he said and added that 100 books will be purchased and given to all newspaper offices.
Star of Mysore Editor-in-Chief K.B. Ganapathy presided over the function. Mysore District Journalists’ Association President C.K. Mahendra and publisher D.N. Lokappa were among the chief guests. Sambamurthy invoked. Y.D. Rajanna compered and K.S. Shivaramu proposed a vote of thanks.
Bandipura Vattam
Star of Mysore Editor-in-Chief K.B. Ganapathy, who presided over the function, said that earlier, whenever any information about wildlife, politics, history, geography and other subjects were needed, he and many other local journalists used to approach Krishna Vattam, who was considered as a walking encyclopedia.
“I entered the field of journalism during the 70s. At that time, there was no internet. For any information regarding wildlife, we used to refer to Vattam, who was a treasure trove of knowledge on information needed for writing a report or an article. We used to call him Bandipura Krishna Vattam,” said Ganapathy and opined that the book Chintana Manthana penned by Vattam was a must read for all journalists and students of journalism.
It is also a book with Vattam’s articles written over many years on various subjects that will make his contemporaries nostalgic of the times past.
source: http://www.StarofMysore.com / General News / September 10th, 2012