BENGALURU:The 82nd Kannada Sahitya Sammelana to be hosted by Kannada Sahitya Parishat in Raichur is likely to have a woman president. Of the 81 meets held so far, only four women — Jayadevitayi Ligade (1974), Shantadevi Malawada (2000), Kamala Hampana (2003) and Geetha Nagabhushan (2010) —became presidents.
Speaking to Express, KSP chairman Pundalika Halambi said, “I personally favour a woman to preside over the event this time. But that is my personal view. We have an executive committee meeting in August, where this will be decided.” Two years back, when the sammelana was held in Madikeri, for the first time, a Christian writer presided over the event and last year, a Dalit writer was made president, he added. KSP sources said even executive committee members are in favour of a woman writer this time. The Raichur meet will tentatively start from October 9.