A “Karanth Smaraka Bhavan” in memory of Jnanpith Award-winner Kota Shivaram Karanth will be inaugurated by Chief Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda on October 12 at Kotathattu village in Udupi district.
The bhavan is in the village where Karanth was born (Kota village comes under Kotathattu Gram Panchayat). It is the initiative of the Kotathattu Gram Panchayat. The bhavan has been constructed on 86 cents of land at an estimated cost of Rs. 2 crore.
The aim of the bhavan is to perpetuate the memory of Karanth in the place of his birth. The bhavan reflects the architecture of this region. It comprises a “ranga mandira” (theatre), a library, a “bal bhavan” and “Karanth Kola” (pond).
“Ranga mandira” was conceived as an open air theatre. But since the coastal region receives heavy rain for five months, a roof has been constructed. The library will have books on Karanth.
Kotathattu Gram Panchayat president Raghu Thingalaya said: “The reason for building the bal bhavan is Karanth loved children.” Children coming to the local anganwadi could also use it.
Another attraction of the bhavan is “Karanth Kola”. In the midst of the pond, a life-size bronze statue of Karanth will be installed.
Four parabola structures are coming up at the four directions of the pond, which has a natural spring providing fresh water.
Srinivas Poojary, MLC, said: “We are trying to get 80 more cents of land next to the bhavan. If we get it, we will construct something which will focus on rural life.”
A statue of “Mookajji”, an enduring character in Karanth's novel “Mookajjiya Kanasugalu”, which fetched him the Jnanpith Award, will be installed under a Deodar tree in front of the bhavan. The walls of the bhavan have paintings and the compound walls have embossed engravings done under the supervision of artist Purushotham Adve.
