Former Vice-Chancellor of Akkamahadevi Women’s University Sabiha Bhumigowda and writer and Sammelanadhyakshe Hema Pattanashetti will inaugurate the 18th Zilla Kannada Sahitya Sammelan in Dharwad on Monday. | Photo credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
Barring the state government’s proposal to close down government schools, writer Hema Pattanashetti said that if people do not understand the state government’s move to make education a commercial product, then the public education system will be destroyed.
Addressing the Sammelanadhyaksha (Conference President) at the 18th Zilla Kannada Sahitya Sammelan in Dharwad on Monday, Professor Pattanashetti said the process of closing government schools has gained momentum across the country and the pace is even faster in Karnataka.
“Scholars, thinkers and writers who have understood the gravity of the problem should take the responsibility of sensitizing the public. Since most of the politicians are running educational institutions, they are trying to destroy the public education system to protect their educational institutions. The Karnataka government is merging government schools under its KPS Magnet School scheme, which is nothing but a violation of the fundamental right to education,” she said.
Referring to the advent of Artificial Intelligence, she emphasized the need for an elaborate study on how AI will affect the future of the Kannada language.
Together with the digitization of the literary treasure of the classical language, it is also necessary to think about the protection of the cultural heritage transmitted by the language. The issue of turning new technology into a person or life is another challenge that should be discussed in detail, she said.
Expressing concern over increasing violence and warmongering, she said writers should focus on creating literature that opposes developments that threaten human dignity, and literature should always lead to peace and harmony.
Prof. Pattanashetti also referred to the recent controversy surrounding Kannada film KD’s “vulgar” song and said that serious consideration needed to be given to stop such commodification of women.
In her speech, she also touched upon the changes women’s writing has undergone, the cultural history of Dharwad, its impact on her writing and the future challenges of Kannada.
Before concluding, she appealed to Kannadigas to start signing in Kannada.
Inaugurating the sammelan, former Vice-Chancellor of Akkamahadevi Women’s University Sabiha Bhumigowda, former Vice-Chancellor of Karnataka State Akkamahadevi Women’s University Sabiha Bhumigowda, said that the literary conference is a time to reflect on the mistakes made by all, whether people are desensitised to social crimes and how to correct it.
She said that women’s issues are no longer just women’s issues. These are actually problems that plague society and society should take responsibility for finding solutions to address them.
Inaugurating Professor Pattanashetti’s book exhibition, Akhil Bharat Sharana Sahitya Parishat President C. Somashekhar urged the state government to allocate at least 1% of the total budget for the development of Kannada.
Dharwad Kannada Sahitya Parishat District Unit President Lingaraj Angadi made the opening remarks and thanked all those who were involved in mobilizing funds to organize the conference without any government support.
President of the previous Sammelan SR Gunjal handed over the Kannada flag to Hema Pattanashetti.
Mayor Jyoti Patil spoke. Karnatak Vidyavardhak Sangha President Chandrakanth Bellad presided over the inaugural session.
Earlier, the President of the Sammelan was brought to the venue in a procession from KCC Bank Circle.
Subsequently, discussions were held on various issues related to Kannada.
An exhibition-sale of books is also organized as part of the sammelan.
Published – 30 March 2026 19:55 IST
