MAKING A POINT: Theatre personality and playwright Girish Karnad speaking at the Eighth International Conference of the Forum on Contemporary Theory .

MANGALORE: Why should the National School of Drama not have regional branches? Why are there no regional drama schools, asked theatre personality Girish Karnad while speaking to presspersons at the sidelines of the national conference on the Forum of Contemporary Theory under the aegis of English Department of the Mangalore University.

Dr. Karnad said: "In regional cities, people should evolve theatre over a period of time so that it is immune from outside influences." Dr. Karnad agreed that the National School of Drama has the resources, but theatre is characterised by diversity in culture, presentation, and performance. He said he is in favour of regional theatre, and added that culturally vibrant States such as Karnataka should take the lead in creating Kannada drama schools, which should have the support of the Government.

Replying to a question on why some intellectuals appear to have a soft corner for the naxalite movement, Dr. Karnad said it is in the spirit of inquiry that intellectuals dwell on such movements. He said they question why there is naxalism and what are the socio-economic conditions that have led to the growth of such movements? These are questions that intellectuals need to ask and this cannot be construed as support for the movement.

Asked about the renaming of Bangalore, Dr. Karanth said whether it is Bangalore or Bengalooru or Mangalore or Mangaluru, it does not really matter, as most Kannadigas refer to these cities in their colloquial form.

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