HASSAN: Speakers at a seminar organised to commemorate the birth centenary of Kannada writer Goruru Ramaswamy Iyengar here on Thursday recalled the rich contribution of the Navodaya writer to literature.

Presiding over the seminar, Giraddi Govindaraj, critic, observed that the Navya movement, which strongly propagated "centrality" of the subject, negated the "marginality" which Goruru strongly believed in, in its early days. However, with the change in literary yardsticks, the critics now were acknowledging the "marginality" in the works of Goruru and his "pure" writing had become a point of discussion among critics. Both the freedom movement and the rural culture made a great impact on the writings of Goruru.

As a writer, it was not fair to identify Gourur to any movement of Kannada literature, as he was unique in his writings. He never limited himself to any form of literature and experimented in every form in his own way. While other writers were concentrating on writings portraits of only "noted" and "popular" personalities, Goruru decided to write about village folks, who were unknown, but great in their own way, he noted.

Though Goruru was considered a humour writer, it was intelligent wit that dominated his writings and it was not used to hurt anybody. Goruru was one among the few writers who swam against the tide, he said.

Rural centric

Ki. Ram. Nagaraj, another critic, observed that Goruru's writings were rural centric and Goruru village the focal point. He even named a novel after Hemavathy river. Personal narrative was his strength and the technique provided him liberty to experiment in the form he liked most. His was an inimitable style and straight narration his strength.

He was never involved in literary controversies and kept to himself.

Though the past was an obsession with Goruru, he never glorified it, but dealt it in his own clinical way, he noted.

Presiding over the function, novelist S.L. Bhyrappa recalled his association with the writer and unveiled his humane approach to life.

"Goruru was a contented person and he depicted the trait in his writings," he said.

Recalling the days he spent as a student in Goruru, Mr. Bhyrappa said the village was progressive and had shunned casteism.

Ramachandra spoke on the biographies of Goruru, and Shyama Sundara Bindarakundi on his short stories. Chi. Sreenivasa Raju chaired the session. Writers, including D.K. Rajendra, Swami Rao Kulkarni and Krishnamurthy Hanoor, presented papers. Regional secretary, Sahitya Academy, Agrahara Krishna Murthy, delivered the keynote address.

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