Karanth’s house is restored, but not open to public yet
PUTTUR: The 80-year-old house of the Jnanpith award winner late Kota Shivarama Karanth has been fully restored but still the district administration is not in a mood to rededicate it to the public. The restored house was ready 40 days back, district officials said.
According to the officials of the Kannada and Culture Department, they have not got a green signal from the government.
State committee members Prof B Viveka Rai and Karanth’s daughter Kshama Rao are also silent about the inauguration. The district administration has not made any attempt to hold a function to unveil the restored house.
At the house, the scene is appalling with moss growing all over the surroundings, slippery floors, heaps of rubble still strewn around and the unswept courtyard. “It was here that Karanth had written most of his books including his award winning Mookajjiya Kanasugalu,” said Karnataka Kannada Sangha president Purandhar Bhat.
“Karanth is to coastal region what K V Puttappa is to the Malnad region. The people and officials of Shivamogga district have made his house in Kuppalli a living monument, so have the officials of the North Karnataka region in the case of Gangubai Hanagal’s house. What prevents the government from taking notice of Karanth’s house?,” asked Dr Amruth Malla, a friend of Dr Karanth’s family.