Writers: Novel must stay in MU syllabus

BANGALORE: If it was A K Ramanujan for Delhi University, it could be H Nagaveni for Mangalore University. The demand of the Vishwakarma community to drop her novel ‘Gandhi Banda’ (Gandhi Has Arrived) from the undergraduate syllabus has been opposed by leading literary figures.
The Vishwakarmas (blacksmiths and goldsmiths) allege that the novel contains derogatory references to their community, including the name by which they are referred to.Certain sections of the community from Mangalore and Udupi have objected to a reference in the novel to an inter-community marriage.
However, litterateurs U R Ananthamurthy, Chandrasekhara Kambar, Girish Karnad, G K Govinda Rao have asked the varsity not to yield to the demand and have, with others, sent a letter to the vice-chancellor.
“Dealing with the scenario of that period, the novelist could not have employed the vocabulary of the 21st century. The novel was published 12 years ago. It’s strange that some sections of the community have discovered something that hurts them. A novel which subtly captures the cultural milieu of the Gandhian era has every reason to continue as a textbook,” writer G Ramakrishna said at a news conference.
Vasundhara Bhupathi, president, Karnataka Writers’ Association, said: “The novel was included six months ago, and the students have already finished a semester and written exams. Why the sudden rage?” Noted writer K Marulasidappa said: “Nagaveni has nothing to lose. If it’s removed, it’ll be a shame to the varsity, the vice-chancellor and the academic council.’’
‘Gandhi Banda’, has won several awards. It depicts the Mahatma’s arrival in coastal Karnataka in 1920s and portrays the region’s culture about a hundred years ago.