Dharwad holds its own literature fest

The litterati of the world may be congregating at faraway Jaipur, but this premier town of Karnataka literature is having its own lit fest.

Much discussed `Dharwad Sahitya Sambhrama’, said to be on the lines of the Jaipur Festival was inaugurated by veteran litterateur Dr GS Amur on Friday.

Literary enthusiasts spent the day with Jnana Peetha awardee Dr Girish Karnad, Pratibha Nandakumar, Girish Kasarvalli and others.

Over 150 students from different districts were enthralled to interact with writers like Na D’souza, BR Laxmanrao, Chandrashekhar Patil (Champa) and Siddhaling Pattanshetti.

Annadani Hiremath, a writer and lecturer from Gadag, said the event was entirely different from the Kannada Sahitya Sammelana that is organised by Kannada Sahitya Parishat every year.
“Rather than dry speeches, the event is expanding horizon of audience experience by organising events like reading autobiographies, interactions, movie screening, drama,” he said.

Prof Mahesh Tippashetti, underlined the need for such events in the state. “Kannada Sahitya Sammelana has been considered as a fair of commoners, this event provides a platform to have close discussion among readers and writers,” he observed.

Ravindra Jalaraddi, a PhD student, stressed on need of promoting young writers on such occasions. “I am not finding people from other walks of life except writers and readers,” he remarked.

The downside was the severe flak received by the organisers for the steep entry fee of Rs1,500 with no guarantee of accommodation and other facilities, restricted entry for 300 people and 50 students and restriction on participants to express their views. Despite government’s grant of Rs10 lakh, organisers had allegedly raised money from government run universities, academies, trusts, it is alleged.

After facing heat from Kannada progressive writers, restrictions were removed and a sentence ‘heartly welcome to all’ was added in all banners and invitation cards. Appreciating the changes, Amur said that literature should be towards society and life.

Story writers Srinivas Vaidya, Nitra Venkatraj and Sridhar Balgar demonstrated on “story telling art’”with instances.

Girish Karnad, Pratibha Nandakumar and AM Madari reached audience by their styles of reading their own autobiographies.