Dharwad :

The literary and cultural hub of Karnataka is all set to host the three-day literary festival — Dharwad Sahitya Sambhrama — beginning on Friday at the picturesque Karnatak University campus.

The mega event will be conducted on the lines of the Jaipur Litertature Festival with modifications to suit local conditions. This is the second edition of the festival.

The first meet had been a tremendous success last year despite protests and threats by a section of literary buffs. A section of the literary circle had taken umbrage at the fest, alleging that it was being organized for the ‘elites’.

Patil Puttappa, president of Karnataka Vidyavardhaka Sangha, had claimed that the event had commercial overtones. He had questioned the rationale behind the collection of fee from delegates and had sought a probe into it.

Some activists under the banner of the Forum of Progressive Writers and Organizations had threatened to organize a parallel literary meet. Following intervention by veteran writers, though, they opted to hold their proposed meet on a later date.

Puttappa, however, has continued to express his displeasure with this edition as well. He has complained that the meet does not have a discussion on the medium of instruction to be adopted at primary schools in the state. “The issue is a burning one. It is common sense that the medium of instruction at primary schools should be in the child’s mother tongue (aka the regional language). Some parents are arguing that it is their right to decide what should be the medium for their children. The matter has reached the Supreme Court. The Karnataka government, which has ordered that Kannada be the medium of instruction till class V, should place its arguments effectively. Litterateurs should deliberate on this issue seriously. But, the Sahitya Sambhrama is not discussing this issue. The writers are shirking their responsibility.”

There is no clarity on whether the issue will be taken up during the fest.

Prominent litterateurs — Jnanpith awardee Chandrashekhar Kambar, S L Bhyrappa, Vivek Rai, Narahalli Balasubrahmanya, Siddalingaiah, T S Nagabharana, Nagatihalli Chandrashekhar, H S Venkatesh Murthy, N S Laxminarayan Bhat, film director P Sheshadri, actor Dattatraya, Vivek Shabhag, Jogi, S Shettar, M M Kalburgi, T P Ashok, Channaveera Kanavi, Channanna Walikar, K H Shrinivas, Y S V Datta, K Satyanarayana, Lt Gen (retired) S C Sardeshpande, Madhav Kulkarni, Padmaraj Dandavati, Mallika Ghanti, Hampa Nagarahaiah, B Sukanya, Shatavadhani Ganesh, Jayant Kaikini and Vasudhendra, among others — have confirmed their participation. Girish Karnad will be a part of the audience.

source: http://www.articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Hubli> Mother Tongue / by Gururaj Jamkhandi, TNN / January 17th, 2014