Lexicographer basks in Sammelana glory in Bangalore

It was the best Sammelana that I have seen in all my life, said 97-year-old president of the 77th Akhila Bharata Kannada Sahitya Sammelana, as the curtains came down on the three-day mega event.

Things came a full circle for lexicographer professor G Venkatasubbaiah who became part of the very tradition that he helped consolidate during his tenure as the president of the Kannada Sahitya Parishat in the 1960s when he framed the constitution for the Parishat. That the procession,  reminiscent of Mysore Dasara, was taken out in the city despite all its traffic issues had to be applauded, he said.

Vows to protect and preserve Kannada were renewed, calls were made to make the language a compulsory medium of instruction.

The Supreme Court should come out with a language policy that would apply to all states facing a similar threat to their native tongues, said advocate Hemalatha Mahishi.

While opposition leader Siddaramaiah opined that the Sammelana should be brought to the city at least once in 10 years, Kendriya Sahitya Akademi secretary Agrahara Krishnamurthy suggested that such a thing should be done once in three years. Kannadigas should also use products manufactured in the state, he said.

Krishnamurthy also had a task for the government - buy the rights of all Bendre works even if it cost crores of rupees and make them easily available to Kannada lovers.

Minister R Ashoka swore he had never signed or written a word in English in documents during his career as minister. He would also not allow the city to go into the hands of outsiders, he said, adding that he was glad to have accepted the responsibility of organising the “successful” event despite being unsure of whether it would be well-received in the cosmopolitan environment of Bangalore.

Organisers and politicians patted themselves on the back for an event “well-put-together, well-received, seen unprecedented success”.