THE CHOICE AND THE CONTROVERSY VISHWA KANNADA SAMMELANA MIRED BY CONTROVERSIES-YET SUCCESSFUL

By Firoz.T.Totanawala

The Bangalore Metro Reporter

15th March 2011 issue-           

   THE CHOICE AND THE CONTROVERSY

VISHWA KANNADA SAMMELANA MIRED BY CONTROVERSIES-YET SUCCESSFUL

The Vishwa Kannada Sammelana though vital for Karnataka, became a cesspool of controversies. The Government spent more than 30 crores to sponsor it, but, the Sammelana which was immediate to the Kannada Meet in Bangalore was definitely not a good move. Thousands of Kannadigas who are still relishing the Kannada meet held by the Kannada Sahitya Parishat, found it hard to prepare for the World Kannada meet within such a short period.

WORLD KANNADA MEET

The Chief Minister B.S Yeddyurappa had sometime back declared that the Government will hold World Kannada meet in Belgaum on March 11 to 13. As the meet was organized by the Government, it implies that the dominant and decisive role was of the politicians and bureaucrats, and not of Kannada organizations, writers and ordinary kannadigas. The Government decided whom to invite and what resolutions to pass. It also decided the agenda and needless to say that the meet was aimed for publicity. All one could do is to attend the meet, purchase a couple of kannada books, taste the food if it was available, and return to their natives.

There was no need for World Kannada meet a month after All India Kannada Meet, but, politics made Yedurappa to hold the meet for improving his public image. While there is real threat to Yedurappa’s position and there are strong possibilities of the state going for a snap poll, Yedurappa had to build up his tainted image, and he hit upon the Kannada Meet.

SOFTWARE MAN-HARD TO DIGEST

Whatever, the World Kannada meet was mired in controversies. The Government chose Infosys’ Boss N.R Narayana Murthy to inaugurate the Meet and popular Hindi Actress Aishwarya Rai Bachchan to be the Chief Guest. The choice of Narayan Murthy became a big controversy. The kannada scholars and activists strongly protested over the choice of Narayan Murthy arguing that his contributions as far as Kannada is concerned, is a big zero. In fact, it is he who is advocating English education from the primary level. Besides, he has no contributions to the kannada or kannadigas either in the state or elsewhere? His Infosys Company has provided employment to more than two lakh people in the state and elsewhere, but, hardly 10% of them are kannadigas. It has also till now not developed a single software in Kannada. It is to be remembered that NRN built his present Infosys empire in Bangalore with the largesse like land, tax exemption and other soups offered by the then Chief Minister HD Deve Gowda. He came into public dominance during SM Krishna regime and was even tipped for the President of India post but was denied due to the National Anthem controversy.

It is under this back drop that the choice of Yedurappa to invite Narayan Murthy to inaugurate the World Kannada Meet was opposed. On the Contrary, his wife Sudha Murthy has done more service to Kannada and the State through her Foundation. She has written kannada books and is actively involved in social work. She can be credited with hi-tech toilets in Bangalore and she is also encouraging poor meritorious students to pursue their education through scholarships and donations. But Yedurappa had his own ideas.

Naturally, the kannada organizations and writers took strong objection to the choice of Narayan Murthy to inaugurate the meet. Many organizations even threatened to boycott the meet itself. Yedurappa, shaken with the developments, tried to defend on the pretext that Narayan Murthy is the most visible face of kannadiga in the world and the state would be honouring itself by honouring Narayan Murthy. But, people were not convinced.

ALL FOR GLAMOUR

Further, the choice of Ashwarya Rai Bachchan as the Chief Guest was also equally controversial. Except that she was born in Karnataka, all her studies and career are limited to Hindi cinema and she has grown in stature after her marriage with Abhishek Bachchan. Her contribution to Kannada is again a big zero and her presence at the kannada meet was limited to glamour.

Besides, Yedurappa on the eve of the World Kannada Meet got another Hindi actress Hema Malini elected to the Rajya Sabha from Karnataka.

UNITED FOR KANNADA

Whatever, keep aside the intentions and dirty politics in organizing such respectful events, the World Kannada Meet was hugely successful indeed. It is pleasure to know that all those who participated raised one voice to unite and contribute towards Karnataka and its culture. And that is what counts. Isn’t it!