‘Kodavas have contributed a lot for the country’s Armed Forces’

Kannada Sahitya Parishat President at ‘Siachen’ book release

Mysuru: Stating that Kodavas have contributed a lot for the country’s Armed Forces, with top commanders such as Field Marshal K.M. Cariappa, Gen. K.S. Thimayya and Gen. G.G. Bewoor heading our Forces, Kannada Sahitya Parishat President Nadoja Dr. Mahesh Joshi regretted the tendency among the people to forget our Soldiers after any border crisis or skirmishes tides over.

He was speaking after inaugurating the programme organised by Dhatri Prakashana for the release of writer S. Umesh’s Kannada work ‘Siachen,’ at Kalamandira here on Sunday.

Noting that our Soldiers were waging a  bloody war against the Chinese at the country’s borders in 1962 at a time when the entire country was celebrating Deepavali, Joshi said that everyone must remember that Soldiers will sacrifice their tomorrow for the sake of our well-being and safety. Asserting that the country will look to Soldiers for safeguarding our citizens during times of crisis, Joshi bemoaned the tendency to forget Soldiers after the crisis gets over.

Recalling the sacrifices of our Armed Forces, Joshi, citing the example of Field Marshal K.M. Cariappa, said that during a war with Pakistan in the 1960s, the Field Marshal’s son was captured by Pakistani Soldiers. Subsequently, the then Pakistan President  Ayub Khan  told  Field Marshal Cariappa that his (Cariappa) captured son would soon be released as a special privilege. But rejecting Ayub Khan’s offer, the Field Marshal told the Pak President that all those captured by the Pak Army were his children and as such his son should not be treated specially and that he be released along with all those captured. Such was the dedication that the Field Marshal had, he noted.

Outlining his future plans for Kannada Sahitya Parishat, Joshi said that he has plans for launching a membership drive, with a target of 1 crore membership.

Expressing delight that he happened to share stage with literary giants such as Dr. S.L. Bhyarappa and Dr. Pradhan Gurudatta in his first programme at Mysuru after he was elected as the Sahitya Parishat President last month, he said that S. Umesh’s work ‘Siachen’ explains in detail, the valour and courage of our Soldiers during the Siachen conflict along the country’s international border.

Saraswathi Samman awardee Dr. S.L. Bhyrappa, who spoke after releasing the book, said that it is important to give books in the form of gift. Pointing out that writer S. Umesh’s ‘Siachen’ book is highly worthy for presenting it as a gift to others, Dr. Bhyrappa called upon the people to develop the habit of reading books. He also stressed on the need for buying Kannada books.

Former Kuvempu Bhasha Bharathi Chairman and veteran writer Dr. Pradhan Gurudatta said that author Umesh has written the book after visiting Siachen, where he had gone by obtaining permission from the Union Home Ministry.

He maintained  that the book presents a geographical features of Siachen Glacier as seen through his eyes, where eggs have to be broken by hammers and hot water gets frozen even before it could be filled to containers, he opined that the book explains in detail how our Soldiers fought valiantly amid highly inclement and chilling cold weather and how they are protecting our country’s borders.

Noting that in the past our Soldiers did not have a weather-proof jacket and also were short of food, Dr. Gurudatta said that the book explains how our Soldiers at the borders are getting bullet-proof vests, other protective gears and food after Narendra Modi became the PM.

Dr. S.L. Bhyrappa handed over a copy of the book to Indian Air Force Group Captain Vinay Vittal on the occasion. Former Sarada Vilas College Principal Prof. M. Nataraj too spoke. Author S. Umesh and his wife Brunda Umesh and others were present.