Mysuru: Accusing Prof. Chandrashekar Patil (Champa), President of the just concluded 83rd Akhila Bharata Kannada Sahitya Sammelana, of insulting Kannadigas by not performing puja to Goddess Bhuvaneshwari and not donning the ‘Mysuru Peta,’ a traditional practice, Mysuru-Kodagu MP Pratap Simha has demanded that Champa apologise to Kannadigas.
Addressing a press meet at his office in Jaladarshini Guest House here yesterday, the MP alleged that the Kannada Literary Meet organisers had conveniently forgotten Mysuru Royal family, Suttur Seer, Saraswati Samman awardee Dr. S.L. Bhyrappa and other eminent personalities of the city.
Taking strong exception for not inviting the eminent writers and personalities of the city, the MP lashed out at Prof. Champa for unnecessarily praising Tipu Sultan at the three-day Kannada Sammelana.
Hitting out at Champa for ‘unfair criticism’ of Union Minister H.N. Ananth Kumar at the valedictory of the Meet, the MP said that Ananth Kumar had raised Kannada issue at the UN, had pressed for Kannada in Bank exams and had discussed development of Kannada software with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
He further said that persons like Champa should not teach secularism to leaders like Ananth Kumar.
Lambasting Champa for making political statements during the inauguration and as well as at valedictory of the Sammelana, Simha maintained that Champa has little knowledge of what true secularism is.
Chiding Champa for his remark that Ananth Kumar wets his pants when anyone speaks about secularism, Simha said that only foul urine smell comes out whenever Champa opens his mouth.
Asserting that he need not learn any lessons on Kannada from Champa, Simha said that Champa spoke political language at the Sammelana instead of speaking about Kannada.
Accusing the littérateur of being Chief Minister Siddharamaiah’s sycophant, the MP said that Champa’s address reeked of foul smell and there was no substance in it.
very well said
Literateur Chandrashekhara Patil known for his strident views on religious aspects influencing political activities in India has raised a hornet’s nest by using the recent Kannada Sahithya Sammelana chaired by him at Mysuru more as a political forum and not as the invaluable platform for musings on Kannada language and literature it is always intended to be. His call to vote and elect secular political parties in his key note address was totally misplaced and conveyed the impression that he allowed the Kannada literary meet to be hijacked by the ruling party in Karnataka to settle scores with it’s rival parties in the run up to the ensuing elections to the State legislative assembly. His clarification that politics shapes all aspects of the life of the Kannada speaking people and hence the political musings in his address is unconvincing. Moreover his wrangling match using foul words with the Union Minister Ananthkumar and Mysore Lok Sabha member Pratap Simha was uncalled for and does not behoove a literary person of his standing.
“gutter wwater” smell was emanating from the mouht of this champa – and his apparance of face is like just now he had bath from gutter water.
I never expected such bad utterances from Dr. Shanthakumar. I have seen neat writings from him in SOM from a long time. Anything bad must be condemned, whether it is from Champa or from Pratap Simha. Otherwise it amounts partiality.
We the citizens of this country have a constitution which proclaims India as a secular state. Not only India, most of the developed western countries are secular in nature. They have open societies wherein people can question anything and they can have their own freedom of expression and freedom of speech.
Before taking bath even Pratap smells filthy! Lets protect India’s secular state for the good of our people.