Karnataka - Mangalore   

Of floating platforms, literature

THRILLING: People on board the floating platform for the ‘Holeyinda Samudrakke’ programme at Pavanje near Mangalore on Sunday.

MANGALORE: Human creativity knows no bounds. This was evident during the “Holeyinda Samudrakke” (from the river to the sea), a programme organised jointly by Agoli Manjanna Janapada Kendra of Pavanje, Department of Kannada and Culture, Bangalore, and Yugupurusha, Kinnigoli, at Pavanje near here on Sunday.

Four “Nadadonis” (country boats) were strung together to ensure their stability. Broad wooden planks tied across the length of these four boats served as a floating platform and comfortable seats arranged for guests.

The entire deliberations took place on this floating platform. The “literary flotilla” consisted of lead floating platform which ferried writers and scholars. Two other floating platforms ferried presspersons and other people on a journey on water from Pavanje to Sasihithlu. A public address system on board the lead floating platform enabled the entire group on the three platforms to listen to the deliberations. Writers spoke on a wide range of literary topics such as role of rivers and sea in folk literature, History of the Nandini, Relationship between river and the sea’ and Culture and rivers. Another set of writers presented their reactions to these presentations. These platforms pulled ashore around 1 p.m. to enable the people on board have a sumptuous meal at the plantation of Padmanabha Rao Koluvailu. The floating platforms touched Haleyangadi, Kandige, Arandhu and Koluvailu, before joining the Arabian Sea at Sasihithlu. The platforms were under the care and supervision of master boatsman, Rama T. Kanchan of Pavanje and Neelayya Kunder of Sasihithlu.

Enjoying this experience was Vice-Chancellor of Karnataka State Open University B.A. Viveka Rai. He said: “It is a pleasure to get away from the routine life and enjoy a literary meet on a floating platform.”

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

Stories in this Section

New dam at Thumbay hanging in the balance
Of floating platforms, literature
‘Electoral process should address all aspects of life’

Copyright © 2008, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu