The district administration held a discussion with artistes and thinkers here on Sunday, on whether litterateur the late Kota Shivaram Karanth’s house at Balavana in Puttur should be maintained in its present shape or reconstructed.
The meeting was called following Karanth’s daughter Kshama Rau’s suggestion to preserve the house that is presently used as a place to exhibit works, awards and other items used by the litterateur.
It was in March that the Department of Kannada and Culture approved a proposal to rebuild Karanth’s house at a cost of Rs. 30 lakh.
The proposal was made by the then Assistant Commissioner of Puttur, Prasanna, who headed the Shivaram Karanth Balavana that maintains the house and conducts activities for children. This proposal, which had been rejected, was approved soon after K.A. Dayananda, the former Additional Deputy Commissioner of Dakshina Kannada, took charge as the Director of the Kannada and Culture Department. H.K. Krishnamurthy, Assistant Commissioner of Puttur, said except for the frontage, Karanth’s house was in a dilapidated condition. “My concern is the damage that the building will suffer during rainy season. Most part of the house is being covered by tarpaulin,” he said.
Mr. Krishnamurthy said he was for reconstruction of the house in the same style as it had been built. He said he was open for suggestions, including that of Ms. Rau, for the preservation of the house.
Around 40 artistes and thinkers took part in the two-hour meeting held at the Balavana. Aruna, a close associate of Ms. Rau, said the government could entrust preservation and maintenance of the house to the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage. Some artistes at the meeting favoured reconstruction of the house. Mr. Krishnamurthy said suggestions made at the meeting would be forwarded to the Department of Kannada and Culture.
