BELGAUM: R. Laxminarayan, regional director of Collegiate Education, Dharwad, said that a majority of writers and poets were indulging in plagiarism.

He was speaking at a seminar here on Tuesday.

He was speaking after inaugurating a seminar on the contributions of noted Kannada writers R. Mugali and A.N. Upadhyay to Kannada literature, organised by the Karnataka Sahitya Academy and the city-based South Konkan Education Society's (SKES) R.P.D. College and G.S.S. College.

Dr. Laxminarayan paid rich tributes to the two great writers in the world of Kannada literature, but regretted that the present generation of writers and poets were indulging in "kriti chori" (plagiarism).

Quality work

He said he was pained to see lack of ideas and good quality original work expected from present day writers.

Senior writer and painter Chandrakant Kusnur drew peoples' attention to the loss of innocence and wished to see individuals re-explore that element with the help of experience.

He said individuals were losing out on their innocence in different situations, besides a sense of joy, wonder, bliss and enthusiasm.

`Explore ideas'

Though such a process was not unnatural, one should strive to retain or re-explore that lost innocence to make life a celebration in the true sense instead of living in illusions and self-deception.

The inaugural function was presided over by R.D. Shanbag, working chairman of SKES. It was interesting to note that most of the women teachers and girl students continued to be seated after the inaugural function and participated in the following two special sessions.

One participant quipped that women and girls seemed to be more interested in literary issues than men and boys.

Session on Mugali

The session on "Achievements and Contributions of R. Mugali" was presided over by retired Kannada professor H.G. Lokur, while professor Srinivas Kulkarni and professor Harish B. Kolkar spoke on the given topic.

The following session on "Achievements and Contributions of A.N. Upadhyay" was presided over by retired district judge and writer Jindatt Desai. S.P. Patil and Sridhar Hegde also spoke.

Senior writer Ra. Sha. Lokapur delivered valedictory address.

C.L. Ajgaonkar, senior member of SKES, presided over the function.

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