The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Native cultural forms facing hard times, says Ananthamurthy

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Tuesday, Jan 29, 2008
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Karnataka

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Native cultural forms facing hard times, says Ananthamurthy

Special Correspondent

‘Government must ensure that indigenous arts are protected’

— Photo: K. Gopinathan

Speaking out: (From left) Secretary, Department of Kannada and Culture I.M.Vittalamurthy; well-known Kannada writer U.R. Ananthamurthy; Chairman, Karnataka Media Academy, V.N. Subba Rao; and Editor of Udayavani Poornima, at the session in Bangalore on Monday.

Bangalore: Making a distinction between “Abhivriddhi” (development) and “Pragati” (progress), well-known Kannada writer U.R. Ananthamurthy said that native cultural idioms have been facing the danger of losing their character and essence in the process of development. Dr. Ananthamurthy was speaking at the Avalokana, an interactive session on journalism, organised by the Karnataka Media Academy on the occasion of its silver jubilee celebrations here on Monday.

Hard times

Indigenous cultural forms such as Janapada oral tradition are passing through hard times, he said. It was important for the Government to ensure that such cultural forms should not lose their “self” by taking steps to protect and propagate them. It was in this context the Government’s move to seek the support of corporate bodies for the betterment of folk arts had become a matter of concern for all, he explained.

Reporting

Commenting on the differing outlook between the regional and English press in covering cultural events and issues, Dr. Ananthamurthy said that the Kannada press has maintained a degree of “sensitivity”. But it would be desirable for the English language presspersons to acquire some proficiency in reading and writing Kannada in the larger interest of the profession and the State, he added. He said that a section of Kannada press had missed the opportunity of documenting the former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda’s reported statement that “he should not have been born in Karnataka”. Mr. Gowda’s statement should have been viewed in the light of his chequered political career marked by struggle, pain, achievements and human follies. Presspersons should develop curiosity and a humane outlook while viewing politicians known for their experience and views and not despise them, he argued.

Changing phase

Explaining the fast changing scenario in the Kannada news coverage and presentation, Editor of Vijaya Karnataka Vishveshwar Bhat said that Kannada journalism had been facing stiff challenges in many fronts, including the exodus of talent to English journalism.

It had become difficult to find people who could cover expanding areas of public interest, he said.

Secretary of Information, Tourism and Kannada and Culture I.M. Vittalamurthy, K.S. Sachidananda Murthy of The Week, Resident Editor Udayavani (Bangalore) R. Poornima and Editor Kannada Prabha H.R. Ranganath spoke on the occasion.

Chairman of the Media Academy V.N. Subba Rao presided over the function. Noted historian S. Shettar and the former Registrar of Kannada University Hampi K.V. Narayana participated in the event.

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