Source : Times of India
MYSURU: An enduring respect for culture and art has played a key role in helping Mysuru earn the distinction of being a Heritage City, and it is the consistent support of several organisations that have helped various forms of art thrive here. The ‘Mysuru Literature Festival’, the third edition of which is slated to be held on Saturday and Sunday, is testimony to the city’s love for letters. Organised by the Mysuru Literary Forum Charitable Trust, in association with Mysuru Books Club 2015, the event will be inaugurated by member of the erstwhile Mysuru royal family Pramoda Devi Wadiya.
The fest, which promises to offer a multitude of divergent views on all things concerning letters, is sure to be a treat for litterateurs. Chairwoman of the Mysuru Literary Forum Charitable Trust Subha Sanjay Urs, who released the posters for the third edition of the fest on Monday, said that noted expert on mythology and writer Devdutt Pattanaik would deliver the keynote address of the event. “Patnaik’s address will centre primarily on the two epics of India – Ramayana and Mahabharatha,” said Subha.
Pattanaik is popular for his modern renditions of many fables and legends that are part of Indian mythical lore. ‘Jaya’, his telling of the Mahabharatha is particularly popular.
Shubha added that noted Kannada director TS Nagabharana, who has helmed critically acclaimed films such as ‘Grahana’ and ‘Nagamandala’, would release the forum’s newsletter ‘The Book Leaf’. “The fest will be held at Hotel Southern Star, and all sessions will be open to the public,” she said.
The fest will be inaugurated by Pramoda Devi on Saturday at 2pm, and continue till 6pm. On Sunday, discussions and interactive sessions will start from 9.30am.
Discussions will be held in both Kannada and English, and two venues will be dedicated exclusively for sessions in the two languages. On Saturday, Nagabharana and director B Suresh will have a discussion on noted Kannada movie directors, whereas Karnataka Sahitya Akadami chairman Prof Aravind Malagatti and former Rangayana director Bhagirathi Bai Kadam will engage in a discussion on the life and works of the late playwright Girish Karnad, who passed away recently. Eminent journalists in the country will participate in a discussion ‘Is the fourth pillar of democracy still strong?’ on Saturday.
The line-up for Sunday is equally illustrious, with writer-columnist Shobhaa De, authors Raghu Karnad and Nirupama Memon Rao and Air Marshal Nanda Cariappa slated to share their thoughts on a wide array of topics. Janaki Lenin, Navin Chawla and Mark Abbott are the speakers of note who will participate in various sessions. Historian Echanuru Kumar will participate in a session, along with Prof C Naganna, Dharmendra Kumar Arenalli and Guri Satya, on the maharajas of Mysuru and their legacy. Discussions will also be held on the Vedas, Kannada literature and culture. Meanwhile, Romulus Earl Whitaker’s session on ‘World of Crocodiles’ is expected to be among the highlights of the second day of the fest.
