Mangalore University will name its Kannada Adhyayana Peeta after writer late S.V. Parameshwara Bhatta, said Vice-Chancellor T.C. Shivashankara Murthy on Tuesday.
Late Bhatta was the first director of the then Mangalore Postgraduate Centre (between 1968 and 1973) of the University of Mysore. The centre was carved out of the University of Mysore for establishing Mangalore University in 1980.
Speaking at the SVP Sahityavalokana, a programme to remember the works of Bhatta, at the university, the Vice-Chancellor said that it was being done to remember the contribution of the writer for development of Kannada in Mangalore region.
“Mr. Murthy said a proposal in this regard will be placed before the Mangalore University’s Syndicate that will be meeting on Thursday.
‘Relieved’
Former Vice-Chancellor of Kannada University, Hampi, B.A. Vivek Rai and writer Aerya Lakshminarayan Alva recalled the days they had spent with Bhatta. Mr. Rai was the first batch of 16 students who joined the Kannada department that was headed by Bhat. Mr. Alva shared the time he spent with Bhatta, who had been transferred to the Postgraduate Centre from Mysore.
Mr. Rai said Bhatta worked tirelessly for development of Kannada in the vast region of Postgraduate Centre covering areas between Talapady and Shiroor in Udupi. He exposed students to Kannada writers namely Da. Ra. Bendre, K.S. Narasimhaswamy by inviting them to the centre. Bhatta involved students in a campaign called “Mane Manege Saraswati” wherein students went around streets in Mangalore to sell Kannada books. Bhatta encouraged Yakshagana and held regular Yakshagana competitions at the centre, he said.
Mr. Rai said Bhatta showed his literary skills in his books namely “Kannumucchale”, a collection of one line adages. His books translating works of Kalidasa and Bhasa revealed his authority on ‘Chandas’ and ‘Tripadi’. “I feel sorry that he was not given honorary doctorate by the Mangalore University before his death in 2000,” he said.
Mr. Alva said Bhatta has to be remembered for his contribution towards the growth of literature and culture of this coastal region. “He found humaneness in his life,” Mr. Alva said added, “the way he looked at life was incomparable.”
