Mysuru: District in-Charge Minister Dr. H.C. Mahadevappa launched ‘Kannada Theru,’ the mobile publicity vehicle for the 83rd Akhila Bharata Kannada Sahitya Sammelana at Maharaja’s College Grounds here yesterday.

Later speaking to press persons, Dr. Mahadevappa said that ‘Kannada Theru’ will cover extensive campaigns in Mysuru, Mandya and Chamarajanagar districts.

The State Government has released Rs. 8 crore for the Sammelana, he said and added that the District Kannada Sahitya Parishat and the District Administration have been working in co-ordination for total success of the Meet.

Kannada and Culture Assistant Director H. Chennappa said that the vehicle has been specially-designed at a cost of Rs. 5 lakh. The vehicle will pass through Mysuru, Mandya and Chamarajanagar districts until Nov.19. The Theru, which traversed in the city yesterday, will traverse in Bannur and T. Narasipur today (Nov. 12), Suttur, Nanjangud and H.D. Kote on Nov.13, Hunsur and Periyapatna on Nov. 14, K.R. Nagar on Nov.15, Mandya district on Nov. 16 and 17, Chamarajanagar district on Nov.18 before returning to Mysuru city on Nov.19. The Taluk units of Kannada Sahitya Parishat will make arrangements to welcome the car, he added.

Kannada Theru

The vehicle is tastefully decorated and embellished with the images of Kannada littérateurs who are winners of Jnanapith awards. The tableaux of Goddess Bhuvaneshwari has been engraved into the exterior of Eicher goods vehicle on either side, with  the front designed so has to resemble the Darbar Hall of Mysore Palace. Apart from the image of the Palace, portraits of Chief Minister Siddharamaiah and Sammelana Chairman Dr. Chandrashekar Patil, popularly known as Champa, also find a place on the vehicle, which also has Karnataka map and flags.