The famous rock on Kavishaila hill in Kuppalli, birthplace of Jnanpith award winner Kuvempu, has been covered with graffiti.
The disfigurement of the rock, where the writer would sit for hours and enjoy nature, has again raised concern about the security at this museum dedicated to the poet laureate. The rock is located adjacent to where Kuvempu was laid to rest.
The vandalism reportedly took place on October 10, 2017. Following this, the Rashtrakavi Kuvempu Pratishthana, the trust that manages the site, has decided to install surveillance cameras at Kavishaila.
Kuvempu had praised the resplendent sunrise and sunset amidst the chirping of birds at Kavishaila in many of his literary works. In one of his poem dedicated to Kavishaila, Kuvempu refers to the place as “ Neem bhuvanadali swargavagihe nanage ” (You have been the paradise on earth for me).
Kuvempu, his son Poornachandra Tejaswi, writers T.S. Venkannaiah and B.M. Srikanthaiah also engraved their signatures on this rock.
Considering the significance of this place, the pratisthana had installed a board cautioning the visitors not to scribble anything on the rock.
Kadidal Prakash, secretary of the pratishthana, told The Hindu that recently the entrance to Kavishaila was being opened at 7 a.m. to enable tourists see the sunrise while the security guards would arrive at 9 a.m.
After the vandalism, the working hours of the guards were changed.
In addition, there are plans to install five surveillance cameras at Kavishaila.
The pratishthana has already installed 15 surveillance cameras at ‘Kavimane’ museum here.
It has also requested the police to sanction an outpost for Gadikallu village near Kuppalli to maintain security here, Mr. Prakash said.
It may be noted that his Padma Vibhushan medal was stolen from the museum in Kuppalli on November 24, 2015.
An average of 1.4 lakh tourists visit Kuppalli every year. The home where the poet was born has been converted into a museum and has been named as ‘Kavimane’.
In 2011, the pratishthana had established an art gallery in Kuppalli where the sculptures and paintings on characters and situations from Kuvempu’s novels Malegalalli Madhumagalu , Kanooru Subbamma Heggadathi and photographs based on his plays are displayed.
Sahyadri Desi Museum, established by Kannada University, Hampi is another place of attraction for the tourists here. Kuppalli also hosts the memorial of Poornachandra Tejaswi.
