MYSURU: The palace city of Mysuru is decked up for the three-day 83rd Akhila Bharatha Kannada Sahithya Sammelan raising hopes that it would address the demand for a separate flag for Karnataka.
The literary meet which is being held after 27 years, has gained importance following the state’s insistence on compulsory primary education in the state’s language.
The entire city is decked up with Kannada flags and special illuminations at prominent junctions and streets. The cultural capital of the state has also put up Jnanpith awardees’ life-size cutouts on roads. A procession with more than 116 cultural troupes will pass through prominent streets taking Sammelan president Chandrashekar Patil in a chariot decorated with flowers.
Though the Kannada meet has an agenda of discussing education, agriculture, dalit issues, women empowerment, Kannada literary history and research, the state government and Kannada literary giants may rake up Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s silence on the Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s letter to make primary education in local languages compulsory.
They may also discuss the Kannada-English language conflicts, onslaught of English after globalisation and death of local languages, saving of Karnataka State Open University, autonomy to Hampi University and other issues.
The meet will also honour 83 achievers who have contributed to art and culture of the state.
District Minister H C Mahadevappa will unfurl the National Flag, Kannada Sahithya Parishat flag and the Kannada flag.
The main venue at Maharaja’s college ground has a seating capacity for 35,000. About 13,000 people have already registered. The delegates and participants will be given breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Around 5,000 writers and an equal number of VVIPs and VIPs will take part in the literary meet, according to the organisers. The preparations are on for cooking food for more than 1 lakh guests. The organisers have booked hotel rooms across the city to provide accommodations for guests. They have put up stalls for a book expo at the venue. The police department has installed CCTV cameras and stepped up security.The procession will start from Mysore Palace at 9 am on Friday.
Govt releases grant of F6 crore
The state government has released an additional grant of `6 crore for the three-day 83rd Akhila Bharata Kannada Sahitya Sammelan scheduled to begin from Friday following a demand from the district administration
Hoteliers make a fast buck in lean month
The hospitality industry is geared up to make some windfall in November, usually considered as lean period in the tourism sector. Writers and literature lovers are being accommodated in star hotels and prominent guest houses . Around 30 hotels are booked. Over 600 VVIPs and VIPs are being put up in star hotels and premium guest houses.