Mysore/Mysuru: MLC A.H. Vishwanath said that the Government is curbing movements that are launched  to strengthen the democratic system by highlighting and correcting the wrongs in the democratic setup.

He was delivering the valedictory address of the first ever KR Constituency Kannada Sahitya Sammelana organised at Maharaja’s College Centenary Hall  here yesterday.

Maintaining that he too entered public life through Kannada movements in 70s, Vishwanath observed that however, literary movements of today seems to be filled with vacuum.

“Political literature has become one of the necessities of life these days. I had appealed Kannada Sahitya Parishat President Mahesh Joshi at the Kannada Sahitya Sammelana held at Haveri in December last, to include political literature too as a subject in the Sammelana. But it did not happen. I have published 7 books that are aimed at creating political awareness among the population,” he said.

Questioning the necessity of spending  Rs. 25 crore for Haveri Kannada Sahitya Sammelana, the MLC expressed concern over closure of 5,700 Kannada Schools. Stating that the Sammelana should work for the promotion of Kannada, the MLC expressed disappointment that the very purpose of the Sammelana was defeated with such extravagant spending at a time when Government schools were facing shortage of teachers and lacked infrastructure.

University of Mysore Acting Vice-Chancellor Prof. Muzaffar Assadi, in his address, said that Kannada has been enriched with the Literary Meets of other languages. Kannada has accepted words of other languages such as English, Persian, Roman and Tulu. On the other hand, these languages too have gained from Kannada, he said adding that English literature had an influence on Kannada literary greats such as Kuvempu and B.M. Shri.

Pointing out that Kannada Literature has both dissent and consent, Prof. Assadi wanted Kannada to further expand horizons so that its fragrance cross borders and barriers.

Achievers from different fields were felicitated on the occasion. They are Dr. Mahesh (Medical), Shantaraju (Media), Siddaswamy (Literature), Hudco Kumar (Environment), Somegowda, Dr. Lakshmidevi, Dr. T. Ramesh, Prof. B. Gundanna and Dr. S. Shantaram (Education), S. Puttarajappa, Kavita Kale and J. Mahadevappa (Organisation), Rajeshwari, B.S. Vanaja and M. Sunil (Women’s Organisation), A.G. Suvateendra (Publication), Myna Lokesh (Literature), Ajay Shastri (Culture), Tejaswi Nagalingaswamy (Kannada Movement), Madhuprakash (Theatre), Revanna (Education and Organisation), Revanna (Vocal), Gayatri Panduji and Kotresh Babu (Social Service), S. Manjunathswamy, Chennegowda and Shivakumar (Community Service).

Sammelana Chairman L. Shivalingappa, Sandhya Suraksha Trust President B.R. Nataraj Jois,  former MLA M.K. Somashekar, former MUDA Chairman H.V. Rajeev, District Kannada Sahitya Parishat President Maddikere Gopal, Theatre Personality Rajashekar Kadamba, District Government Employees Association Vice-President Malangi Suresh, University of Mysore Syndicate Member E.C. Ningaraj Gowda, Corporator M.V. Ramprasad and others were present.