Speakers converse at a session titled ‘Kannadavene’ on the second day of the Zilla Kannada Sahitya Sammelan in Dharwad on Tuesday. | Photo credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
Activist and journalist Siddanagouda Patil said that if the life of Kannada speakers is enriched, it automatically enriches the language as language is not apart from life.
He lectured on Kannada language and life in a session titled: Kannadavene…” on the second day of the Dharwad Zilla Kannada Sahitya Sammelan in Dharwad on Tuesday.
Mr. Siddanagouda Patil, who began his lecture by recalling the historical contribution of Dharwad to the strengthening of the Kannada land and language, elaborated on how the protest in Dharwad led to VK Gokak submitting a report to the state government on the status of Kannada in Karnataka, which in turn resulted in the Gokak movement to implement the report’s recommendations.
He said that the survival and enrichment of a language depends on the enrichment of the lives of the people who speak that language.
“When the life of Kannadigas becomes beautiful, the language also becomes beautiful and the culture associated with it becomes rich,” he said.
Mr. Patil mentioned the issue of creating magnet schools by merging state schools, which he said will automatically lead to the closure of nearly 40,000 schools out of the total 76,000 schools in the state.
“It is a development that will lead to the centralization of education. Everyone should think seriously about the social impact,” he said.
He also expressed concern over inviting MNCs to invest in the state, which he said will affect the lives of Kannadigas as they will not only lose their agricultural land but also their source of livelihood.
Karnataka Vidyavardhak Sangha General Secretary Halagatti speaking on ‘Children’s Literature and Newspapers’ expressed concern over the dwindling space for works of children’s literature in newspapers as well as apathy towards children’s literature.
Mr Halagatti stressed the need to develop reading habits among children in the digital age and said parents should think twice before giving mobile phones to their children.
“Whether and when to give mobile phones should be decided after careful consideration by parents,” he said, adding that parents should develop a habit of spending on children’s books while giving them various snacks.
He also emphasized the need to regularly criticize works of children’s literature.
The session was presided over by former educationist Shivashankar Hiremath, who emphasized the need to start a movement to implement the UN resolution to make learning in the mother tongue a fundamental right of the child.
Sammelanadhyakshe Hema Pattanashetti and Dharwad Kannada Sahitya Parishat district unit president Lingaraj Angadi were present.
Published – 01 April 2026 18:45 IST
