The 84th All-India Kannada Sahitya Sammelan is set to create records in terms of registration of delegates and number of sessions held, according to Kannada Sahitya Parishat president Manu Baligar on Tuesday.
Speaking to presspersons after watching a rehearsal for the performance of naadageethe (State anthem) by students of SJMVS College for Women here, he said that a record number of sessions — 24 — would be held at the Dharwad sammelan.
“For the first time, there will be a special session on issues related to north Karnataka. The border issue, Mahadayi, irrigation projects, and farming will be dealt with in various sessions,” he said.
With regard to registration of delegates, the parishat had to stop registrations as the number had reached 16,500 — the highest in the history of Kannada Sahitya Sammelans, he said.
While 500 stalls have been allotted for books and other publications, 300 are allotted for commercial use. Mr. Baligar said there would be special counters for women at the food section and enclosures and facilities for women with newborns.
State anthem
Mr. Baligar said the Parishat had proposed to the government to issue an order restricting the singing time of Naada Geethe to two minutes and 30 seconds, and this would be done during the convention.
The proposal was sent after consultations with experts, including writers and musicians, as the State anthem is usually sung like a song and can sometimes last up to nine minutes, he said.
As many as 25 students of SJMVS College are being trained by their teacher, Jyothilaxmi, to sing the anthem within the stipulated time, Mr. Baligar said.
To a query, Mr. Baligar clarified that the Kannada Sahitya Parishat had already opposed the government decision to introduce English as medium of instruction. He added that the Chief Minister has promised to convene a meeting of experts and writers to discuss the matter. “We are hopeful that the CM will convene the meeting after the sahitya sammelan,” he said.
Dharwad Zilla Kannada Sahitya Parishat president L.R. Angadi was present.