Even as litterateurs and scholars are debating the appropriateness of holding the Vishwa Kannada Sammelan (world Kannada meet) given the successive droughts in the State, the government has decided to go ahead with it at the end of this year.
The decision was taken at a meeting of writers, thinkers, academy heads, officials and artistes with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday.
Mr. Siddaramaiah said there was pressure from all those concerned to hold the event in November, the Kannada Rajyotsava month, but it was finally unanimously decided to hold it in early December.
He also agreed to implement the much-awaited cultural policy in the next one week and fill the vacant posts in academies.
According to the writers who were part of the closed-door meeting, Mr. Siddaramaiah was initially in a state of dilemma, but finally the majority was in favour of holding the event.
Some felt the meet should be held, but in a simple manner. The event should be people-centric and Kannadiags from across the globe should take part, they suggested.
“The event should be a simple affair, without pomp and show. Simultaneously, the government should work to protect the interest of farmers who are in distress because of drought,” said Prof. Chidananda Murthy, a Kannada scholar.
Briefing reporters after the meeting, Minister for Kannada and Culture Umashree said there was no question of putting off the event. She said the who’s who of Kannada culture and literature will be invited to the meet.
Manu Baligar, president of the Kannada Sahitya Parishat, said some litterateurs, including Chandrashekar Patil, had initially urged the government to postpone the event, but the final decision to hold the event was taken unanimously. There were also discussions on who would inaugurate the event. Writer Ham. Pa. Nagarajaiah proposed the name of scientist and Bharat Ratna recipient C.N.R. Rao. Writer Kum. Veerabhadrappa also voted for Mr. Rao and argued against inviting people who were celebrities but did not know Kannada.