The 87th Akhila Bharata Kannada Sahitya Sammelana, held in Mandya between December 20 and 22, passed six resolutions regarding promoting and developing the Kannada language. The Sammelana, which had become controversial after meat was prohibited at the venue and clubbed with alcohol and tobacco, ended on a high note, as eggs were served as part of the official menu for the first time since its inception a hundred years ago.
Food had turned into a controversy ahead of the Sammelana when the organisers clubbed meat-based dishes with alcohol and tobacco as items prohibited at the venue. This led to protests, culminating in the protesting groups serving some of the traditional meat dishes of the Mandya region for lunch on the concluding day at a stall in the official dining area of the Sammelana. Although the police initially tried to disperse the group, there were no objections from the Sammelana participants to serving meat.
At dinner, the Sammelana organisers themselves included boiled eggs on the official menu. Neither meat nor eggs have been served at any Sammelana since the first one was held in 1915.
Many issues were discussed at the three-day Sammelana, including one titled ‘Literature in Politics and Politics in Literature’, during which political leaders urged writers to guide politicians through constructive criticism. Writers also discussed the development of the Kannada language in technology, including translation-related aspects. To this end, writers said that there is a need for science-related courses to be taught in Kannada.
On Sunday, December 22, the concluding day, the Sammelana, chaired by writer Go Ru Channabasappa, called for the implementation of the Kannada Language Comprehensive Development Act 2022 and to amend the law to appoint the president of the Kannada Sahitya Parishat (KSP) as the vice president of a state-level committee to oversee it. Another resolution was to organise an international Kannada Sahitya Sammelana in Davangere with the KSP as the main organiser. The executive committee also resolved to hold the next Sammelana in Ballari.
The Sammelana also demanded that the state government work towards ensuring that all Kannada schools have buildings, libraries, playgrounds, teachers, and other facilities. It also urged that Kannada teachers must mandatorily be appointed in non-Kannada schools. Another demand was to announce a Rashtra Kavi at the earliest.
Jobs-related resolutions included urging the government to effectively handle court cases about jobs for Kannadigas and implementing the Sarojini Mahishi Commission’s report, which made several recommendations regarding reserving jobs for people from Karnataka.
Speaking at the event, Union Minister for Heavy Industries HD Kumaraswamy said he would attempt to revive the Sir M Visveswaraya Iron and Steel Limited plant in Bhadravathi in the Shivamogga district. He also said Rs 15,000 crore would be allocated for that purpose.