Mysuru: “Kodava language is like seeds inside a fruit which is Kannada language,” observed Literary and Cultural Thinker Dr. A.A. Kuttappa.

He was speaking at ‘Kodava Thakk – Sahitya Dina’ (Kodava Language and Literate Day)organised jointly by Kendra Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi, Rangabhoomi Trust, Kodagu and Natana Ranga Shaale at Natana Rangamandira in Ramakrishnanagar recently to commemorate the 151st birth anniversary of Haradasa Appacha Kavi. 

Dr. Kuttappa recalled that Appacha Kavi was an expert playwright whose four plays have become very popular. He commended Akademi  Member and Theatre artiste Addanda Cariappa for coming out with the book Haradasa Appacha Kavi that was released at the event. 

Speaking on the occasion, Cariappa observed that protecting Kannada language with script has become tough and promoting Kodava language without a script by Appacha Kavi was really laudable. 

When the 14th Kannada Sahitya Sammelana was held in Kodagu, D.V. Gundappa, Chairing the Sammelana, appreciated holding the event in Kodagu and predicted that Kodavas would protect Kannada in the coming days, he recalled.

Continuing, Cariappa said that ‘Kodava Thakk – Sahitya Dina’ is being celebrated to commemorate the birth anniversary of Appacha Kavi and added that the country’s first folk literature ‘Pattole Palame’ running to 612 pages was in Kodava language. He sought establishing of a Haradasa Appacha Kavi Study Chair at the University of Mysore and also to organise Appacha Kavi  Jayanti in Kodagu by the State Government.

Bharani Art Gallery Director Nellamakkada B. Kaverappa said that the State cannot forget Haradasa Kavi who used to read Shlokas of epics and who promoted the Kodava literature. 

On the occasion, the play ‘Badk’ was staged by Cariappa and Anitha couple in the lead roles of the elderly couple Chengappa and Thangachi with a lot   of humorous anecdotes portraying the true life of a happily married couple.