MADIKERI: The "Kannada Nudi, Kannada Gadi" jatha will arrive in Virajpet at 11 a.m. on October 20 with a message to protect and preserve Kannada culture, T.P. Ramesh, president of the Kodagu District Kannada Sahitya Parishat, said here on Friday.

Addressing presspersons, Mr. Ramesh said the jatha would be led by MLC `Mukhyamantri' Chandru. The jatha would cover 47 of the 52 taluks on the State's border. It would assess the living condition of Kannadigas, growth of Kannada and hear grievances of the people. Such an exercise was being undertaken for the first time in the State after its unification in 1956, he added.

The jatha would be received at Panjarpet near Virajpet when it would arrive from H.D.Kote. Virajpet MLA H.D. Basavaraj, MLC C.S. Arun Machaiah, president of the Virajpet Town Panchayat Farooq Rahim would receive the jatha. The jatha was expected to arrive in Madikeri at 4 p.m. on the same day.

Former Minister B.T. Lalita Naik, actors Rakshita, Prem, and Doddanna, writer Harikrishna Punaruru, Kumble Sundar Rao, and K.V. Nagarajamurthy were expected to be part of the jatha, Mr. Ramesh said. Mr. Ramesh said the Kannada Sahitya Parishat would be forced to take steps to paint non-Kannada signboards in black in the district in the first week of November if shopkeepers and business establishments did not take steps to display Kannada signboards. Respective municipal bodies should ensure it as per Government norms. He appealed to all to display Kannada signboards prominently. Mr. Ramesh appealed to the Chamber of Commerce district body and its units to cooperate in this regard.

He called upon the people of the district to support the October 4 bandh stating that it was for the cause of Kannada. The parishat would take active part in the Suvarna Karnataka celebrations where "Suvarna Karnataka Dibbana" was set to start in the district on October 5. The "Dibbana" (tableau) would pass through 85 gram panchayats in the district, he said. He urged artistes from the district to participate in the Shimoga All-India Kannada Sahitya Sammelan from December 20 to 24. Madikeri taluk Kannada Sahitya Sammelan would be held at Murnad on November 3, Somwarpet taluk sammelan at Somwarpet on November 27 and Virajpet taluk sammelan at Virajpet in December.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail