Kannada kindles universal kinship

The World Kannada Meet concluded on Sunday with a call for conducting a survey on Kannadiga non-resident Indians (NRIs). 

“About one lakh Kannadigas live in the US alone and there are over 60 Kannada associations. But there is no clear data on where exactly they are, what is the demography or what is their profile. It’s high time we conduct a census of Kannadiga NRIs as there is not much information available on those living in the US as well as other parts of the world,” said  Dr Keshav Babu from  the Kannada Koota in Northern California.

Babu said the World Kannada Meet in Belgaum would be a firm step in uniting various Kannada organisations and individuals spread across the globe for further development of the language and culture. He was among the Kannadiga NRIs who presented their wishlist at a discussion held on the concluding day of the meet.

SK Shyamasundar, editor of Thatskannada, an online news portal, said that only by obtaining census data of Kannadiga NRIs, one would be able to draw the roadmap to connect them with their motherland and involve them in various development activities.

“There are many Kannadigas who are contributing to the development of Kannada in their own way. There is, for instance, a Kannadiga in Oman, who has staged 600 plays in Kannada. We need to bring such people under a common forum,” he said.

Dr Neeraj Patil, a Kannadiga and mayor of Lambeth in London, said the three-day meet raised the confidence level of every Kannadiga around the world. The huge response to the meet indicated that the language faced no threat.

Srivatsa Joshi from Maryland, US, said the meet leaves a sweet smell behind thanks to the famous Belgaum delicacy Kunda.

Amarnath Gowda, an NRI from Detroit and chairman of the board of trustees of Association of Kannada Kootas of America, said the government of Karnataka should constantly be in touch with the Kannada associations abroad and take advantage of the contacts.