World Kannada Conference / Vishwa Kannada Sammelana
The Sammelana aims at bringing the cream from everywhere for protecting and enhancing the culture and language of Kannada. The government plans to organize this prestigious event in Belgaum in January. The Kannada culture minister has promoted the formation of 14 committees, mostly consist of writers and scholars.
Belgaum, in wake of the Sammelana is being beautified and deck up for the event. City Corporation has invited tenders for road repairs and civic amenities. Nearly Rs. 4 crore will be spent on road repairs and the government has made a budget provision of Rs.25 crore for the Sammelana. This makes it the costliest Kannada Sammelana in the recent decade.
The first Vishwa Kannada Sammelana was organized in Mysore in 1986. The state government, that wants to relive the glory of the previous Sammelana. Then the three day fest was inaugurated by Shivaram Karanth, Jnanpith winner, on a stage that had the Mysore Palace in the back drop, former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi had graced the occation.
Government has constructed Kala Mandira and row of quarters for the Sammelana purpose. Besides the venue, timing is still not decided. The Sammelana aims to celebrate Kannada and our cultural heritage from all over the world. It will bring about the confluence of the old and young generation of artists and art lovers. The budding artist and writers in Kannada literatures will find a fresh platform to express themselves.
The Sammelana will highlight series of felicitations for all those who have strived to get classical status for Kannada. Some of them are Shadakshari Shettar, linguist K V Narayana, researchers Chidananda Murthy and L S Sheshagiri Rao. Bharat Ratna, Bhimsen Joshi, legendary singer Gangubai Hangal, Chandrayaan scientists, IT entrepreneurs from Bangalore, and Booker winner Aravind Adiga will be felicitated.