"Saahitya Koota" completed it's 3000th Saturday's weekly program on 27th July 2014. To mark the occasion it was celebrated at the Hari Keerthana Mandira in Sri Brahmachaitanya Srirama Mandira. (The weekly programs are usually held at the Shishuvihaara, behind the Public Library) Prof. RVS.Sundaram, a former Professor and Director of Kuvempu Institute of Kannada Studies, University of Mysore was the chief guest and the orator for the day. Shri G.H. Venkatesh Murthy and Shri B. Srirama Murthy presided over the function.
Prof RVS. Sundaram is a recipient of A.P Sahitya Academy Award who had worked as a Telugu lecturer at the Chintamani Municipal College in the year 1969. He was not familiar with Kannada when he first came to Chintamani, but his urge and inclination towards Kannada language made him to accomplish M.A in Kannada within a year. Apart from writing several books in Telugu, he has translated many Kannada works of great poets and writers to Telugu for which he has received Bhaasha Bharati Award for translation from Central Institute of Indian Languages, Ministry of HRD. His books, monographs and over 200 papers and articles are published in Telugu, Kannada and English. He is a visiting Professor at the University of Pennsylvania, USA on the South Asian Studies where he helps the students acquire knowledge on Telugu and Kannada and study the great works written ages ago. It's his humility that he dedicated his achievements to his brief occupation in Chintamani a few decades ago.
Speaking on the occasion he said - "Kannada is a very rich language with lots of books that can be considered as a treasure of knowledge. Kannada has had great writers in every era who have comprehensively written on various subjects, be it on great epics(Ramayana,Mahabharata) or on Science or on Mathematics. There is a book in Sanskrit that was written in the past which introduces the reader to the Kannada language. And there's also a book written in English on Kannada which the Britishers used to learn the language. Kannadigas themselves will be startled to hear the immenseness of Kannada language. The students of many countries are showing lot of interest to learn Kannada and study the works of great writers and have also translated them to the language of their land. It's kind of unfortunate that the Kannadigas are unaware of the richness they possess and there's a disinterest towards the language." After Prof. RVS. Sundaram's 75 mins of outstanding oration the audience were overjoyed with attaining knowledge about their own language and were beaming proudly because their love towards Kannada increased manifolds.
He appealed to the people, especially the youth, to love the language and try to read the great books written in Kannada.
And later there was also a Bharatanatya Program by the students of Srisai Kalanikethana. The dance by the students was a treat to watch with each song having different flavours of expression. The budding talents exhibited their potential in the limited time available. Thanks to their teacher Smt.Bhaamamani for keeping this great form of art alive in Chintamani.
The 3000th week was a befitting program, all thanks to Shri Y.G.Anantha Shastry, Shri G.Jayaram, Shri. Ashwathnarayana and many others who have shouldered the responsibility of keeping it going gracefully.
