We are at an interesting juncture at the Karnataka Sahitya Academy as we look at three years of action-packed events ahead of us, said chairperson of the academy Malati Pattanashetti, who took over three months ago along with 17 members on board.
Speaking at a press conference here on Monday, arranged ahead of the celebrations planned by the academy for its golden jubilee, she said, “The academy completed 50 years in 2011. But it wasn’t celebrated then, and hence the commemorative literary, cultural and social events planned for the occasion would be flagged off on August 3 in Shimoga. A special souvenir containing footprints of the academy’s 50-year history will be released. Former presidents would be honoured on the day,” she said.
The academy has been sanctioned Rs. 1 crore for the 2014–15 expenditure.
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Plans are on to approach the State government for more funds for the celebrations, she said.
The academy, since May 15, has held half-a-dozen programmes, including State-level poetry appreciation workshops and meet-the-writer series aimed at educating young minds.
The academy’s latest programme, ‘Saadhakiyarondige Samvaada’, is an instantaneous hit where women achievers are invited for an interactive discussion, said Ms. Pattanashetti.
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The Kannada and Culture Department’s ‘Maneyangaladalli Maatu Kate’ programmes mainly featured male accomplishers, so we wanted to bring in women who had fought against life’s odds, she said.
On her tenure ahead, she said she looked at the ‘sea of work’ in front of her as a challenge and not a burden.
“Afterall, it’s a renewed beginning. We have to travel to 30 districts in the State to conduct workshops and symposiums. We even plan to give away the 2010–11 and 2011–12 State Sahitya Academy Awards (Pustaka Bahumaana) in December this year at Dharwad,” she said.
The academy’s underlying philosophy would be to encourage women and assist young writers with guided workshops conducted in interior districts too.
Hundred female characters would be chosen from 20th Century women’s novels for an overall analysis, while 100 best stories and 100 best poems would be translated into all Indian languages, including English, Ms. Pattanashetti said.