The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Gokak birth centenary celebrations from August 9

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Tuesday, Aug 05, 2008
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Gokak birth centenary celebrations from August 9

Special Correspondent

Series of literary and cultural programmes planned as part of the celebrations
V.K. Gokak was the author of over 90 works in
various genres

BANGALORE: To commemorate the birth centenary of the renowned Kannada writer and Jnanpith Award winner Vinayaka Krishna Gokak, the Directorate of Kannada and Culture has planned a series of literary and cultural programmes starting from August 9.

Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa will inaugurate the centenary celebrations at a function organised at Kannada Bhavan in Bangalore on August 9.

The inaugural ceremony is being held on the 100th birthday of the acclaimed writer. Gokak was born on August 9, 1909 in Dharwad district.

The event will begin with popular singers Ajay Warrior, Supriya Acharya and troupe rendering Kannada songs and Kavyavaachana by Gamaki M.R. Sathyanarayana Rao. A documentary on Gokak will be screened, with the assistance of Mysore-based Central Institute of Indian Languages.

The cultural programmes will be followed by a seminar on the life and works of Gokak. In the first session, to be chaired by literary critic Giraddi Govinadarju, H.L. Pushpa will deliver a talk on “Kannada Navya Kavya — Influences and inspirations.”

Writer Siddalinga Pattanashetti will speak on “Navodhaya to Navya — Gokak’s Poetry.”

The second session would feature lectures by D. Mangala Priyadarshini on “Gokak’s contribution to Kannada poetry” and N.B. Chandramohan on “Uniqueness of Gokak’s novels.” Former Kannada Sahitya Parishat President Chandrashekar Patil would chair the session.

Gokak, who bagged the Jnanpith Award for his magnum opus Bharatha Sindhu Rashmi, was author of over 90 works in various genres such as poetry, novel, drama, travelogue and criticism. His pioneering work Samudhra Geethegalu, brought a transition in the Kannada literary thinking.

Indeed, Gokak’s contribution to the cause of Kannada too was invaluable.

He was the author of the landmark report, commonly known as Gokak Varadhi, recommending primacy of Kannada in administration. During 1982-83, the State witnessed widespread agitation — Gokak Chaluvali — demanding the total implementation of the Gokak report.

Gokak, a recipient of several prestigious literary awards, served as the Vice-Chancellor of Bangalore University and Chairman of the Kendra Sahitya Academy.

He taught at colleges and universities in Karnataka, Maharashtra and Gujarat.

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