Mysuru: A book release function organised by the city’s Guruthu Balaga marking its first anniversary at Maneyangala in Kalamandira premises on Monday virtually turned out into a condolence meeting to pay tributes to renowned writer and Jnanpith awardee Girish Karnad, who passed away in Bengaluru on June 10.

Floral tributes were paid to a portrait of Karnad as a mark of respect to the departed writer.

Later, releasing the book titled ‘Guruthu Varthamaanakkondu Kannadi,’ Karnataka Sahitya Akademi Chairman Prof. Aravind Malagathi said that Karnad’s death had brought a pall of gloom to the literary world.

Pointing out that Karnad was a multi-lingual writer, actor and playwright, Arvind Malagathi said that Karnad always stood for the principles he advocated and his death was a big loss to the State.

Commenting on ‘Guruthu Varthamaankkondu Kannadi’ brought out by Sri Nidhi Books, he said that the Guruthu Balaga has done a good job by espousing social issues haunting the society. Noting that the book focuses on bringing about a societal transformation, he said the book is a thought-provoking one.

Stating that the Centre’s efforts to enforce Hindi through National Education Policy was fraught with an ulterior motive of pushing Hindi in Southern States, he urged the Centre to treat all Indian languages on par and  promote them as part of regional aspirations.

KRRS President Badagalapura Nagendra, MDJA President C.K. Mahendra, writer Bannur K. Raju, cultural patron Samskruti Subramanya and others were present.