BENGALURU: The upkeep of memorials honouring Kannada writers has come into the limelight, with a burglar ransacking the Kuvempu memorial in Kuppalli on Monday night.
Well-known Kannada poet K S Nissar Ahmed, who, like Kuvempu, is from Shivamogga district, described the museum as “a beacon of learning”. “Kuvempu’s birthplace is remote, and needs more security. Even the police must do their bit to preserve his memories,” he said.
Although the incident may be the work of a petty burglar, it draws attention to the vulnerability of writers’ memorials, he remarked.
K S Achyuthan, secretary of a trust in the name of poet Pu Thi Narasimhachar, said it was the responsibility of the trustees to maintain memorials. “Karnataka is unique in India in establishing memorials for poets and literary figures. In fact, the government here provides funds and support for trusts and memorials,” he said.
K Y Narayanaswamy, poet and playwright, sees a political conspiracy behind the burglary. “It was not for financial gain. It is a well-protected museum and does not need any more security,” he said.
He visits the place every year, and is going again soon to conduct a three-day workshop. “I feel the return of awards by writers influenced by Kuvempu’s thoughts could be the provocation,” he said. “But if a writer’s life can’t be protected, what is the use of protecting memorials?”
Kannada poet Meena Mysore, however, rubbished the political colour being given to the burglary. With the exception of the Kuvempu memorial, few others are serving the cause for which they were established, she rued.
“The Kuppalli centre has a tie-up with Kannada University and they hold regular workshops and seminars, propagating the cause of Kannada literature. The others have hardly done their bit; some are struggling to survive, while others are in a limbo,” she said.
Nowadays, even academics are not aware of the contributions of great writers and can’t be expected to impart knowledge or even motivate students to visit these memorials, Meena said.
Where Poets are Adored
Kuvempu (Kuppalli), Bendre (Dharwad) and Pu Thi Na (Melkote) were the first three major writers of the 20th Century to be honoured with memorials. Bendre’s memorial was established next to where he lived, while Kuvempu’s and Pu Thi Na’s came up at their birthplaces.
The first two came up when Veerappa Moily was CM, and after the passing of the poets, while the Pu Thi Na memorial was planned when he was alive. After 1995, memorials came up for Shivaram Karanth, Basvaraj Kattimani, Betageri Krishna Sharma and other literary stalwarts.
“The state government gives us freedom to chalk out our programmes and institute awards in the writers’ names. We bring out publications and audio and video
recordings and also reprint works not available,” said K S Achyutan, secretary of Pu Thi Na Trust. The trust has also established Pu Thi Na Kalamandira, a modern open-air theatre.