‘Rajya Janapada Prapancha’ Award conferred

Mysore/Mysuru: Leader of the Opposition in Legislative Assembly Siddharamaiah has assured to address the demands to foster folk arts with special funds, with Congress party expected to return to power in the forthcoming Assembly elections in the State.

Siddharamaiah, who addressed the gathering at a programme organised by Kannada Janapada Parishat State and Mysuru District units to confer ‘Rajya Janapada Prapancha’ Award at University College of Fine Arts auditorium, Manasagangothri, in city recently, said: “According to an estimate, we (Congress party) will return to power. After ascending power, we will fulfil whatever demands are made to conserve folk arts.”

Folk arts are a part of life with their genesis traced to villages. The people in rural areas have patronised the very arts since ages and Congress will give more funds to conserve it. The honour for folk artistes is akin to respecting folk arts. Chamarajangar district is known for folk arts, so also Kodagu, Uttara Kannada and Dakshina Kannada among other districts that have myriad forms of folk arts, which have to be preserved for posterity.

Siddharamaiah also regretted over dwindling number of folk masters who can teach the interested people. Those who have learnt the art should teach others too, he added.

Recalling his early days at his native Siddaramanahundi in Mysuru district, Siddharamaiah said: “I could not study till fourth grade as my father had enrolled me to learn folk dances like Veera Makkala Kunita, Nandi Kunita, Puja Kunita and Veerabhadra Kunita. Nanjegowda was our master who taught folk dances to 30 children then. Myself, Menase Gowda and Marilingaiah learnt them proficiently. It was Nanjegowda again who initiated us to learn how to read and write by practicing on sand, that gave us easy entry into 5th grade directly.”

“I still humbly recall Nanjegowda due to whom I later became a lawyer, Minister and also Chief Minister and reached this position. Rajappa, who enrolled me to school and Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha (KRRS) leader late Prof. M.D. Nanjundaswamy, who introduced me to politics, are all my gurus. We have the responsibility of retaining the precedent,” said Siddharamaiah.

Three books — Srushti authored by Thotegowda Siddanakoppal, Madarangi Janapada Kathegalu by Dr. Besur Mohan Palegar and Aparoopada Odave by R.G. Venkatagiriyappa Tavugodlu — were released on the occasion.

‘Rajya Janapada Prapancha’ Award was conferred on Prof. Ambalike Hiriyanna of Shivamogga, Prof. Nanjaiah Honganur, Kamsale Madeva and Nandi Dhwaja Mahadevappa of Mysuru, Dr. C.B. Honnu Siddharta of Bengaluru, Dr. Kuruva Basavaraj of Ramanagara, Dr. Chaluvaraju of Vijayanagar, Sobane Krishne Gowda of Mandya, Tarabai of Kalaburagi, Basavaraj of Chamarajanagar, Basavaraj Neladal of Raichur, Moulasab Nanasab Jahagirdar of Vijayapura, Sullimada Gowri Nanjappa of Kodagu, Kanaradi Vadirari Bhat of Udupi, Jalamara Subraya of Chikkamagalur, Doddakka of Tumakuru, Munivenkatamma of Kolar, Malleshappa Basavanneppa Jogi of Uttara Kannada, Bheemshi Ghanti S. Shirura of Bagalkot and Suresh Shetty Ayyadi of Maharashtra.

Former Minister Dr. H. C. Mahadevappa, KPCC Working President R. Dhruvanarayan, H.D. Kote MLA Anil Chikkamadu, Karnataka State Safai Karmachari Commission Chairman M. Shivanna, former President of Mysuru Zilla Panchayat K. Marigowda and others were present.