Hubbali: Ganesh Devy, who has among front runners in movement against intolerance and is scholar from Gujarat, is permanently shifting his residence from Vadodara to Dharwad by the end of this month. He is the one among writers who returned Sahitya Akademi's award following killing of research scholar M M Kalburgi.
Meanwhile his migration is being treated as great strength for Dharwad which has been the hub of writers, linguistics, musicians from centuries. In the wake of his shifting TOI approached Devy, who is currently in Vadodara and preparing to shift to Dharwad, to know what he found in Dharwad and why he is leaving his motherland Gujarat.
What made you to think about migration from Gujarat to Karnataka?
Devy: In order to make a new beginning, I have chosen Dharwad as my 'Karmabhumi' for the coming years. Karnataka state in general and Dharwad in particular has always attracted me. My teacher late Shantinath Desai studied there and taught for a while at the Karnataka University. My wife is from Karnataka and therefore we feel very much at home in Karnataka. The great literary persons like Da Ra Bendre, V K Gokak and Ram Sri Mugali, Girish Karnad as also the Marathi writer GA Kulkarni have made Dharwad a place of eminence. Several eminent scholars like the philosopher K J Shah, K Krishnamoorthy, G S Amur and M M Kalburgi have brought the city a good name with their scholarly contributions. Therefore, I thought Dharwad makes an ideal place for me to move in.
Dharwad is in international news after killing of Kalburgi. There is a feeling among writers and artistes that Dharwad is not safer place to express one's views. How do you find it will be safer than Vadodara?
Devy: Dharwad has been in international news previously too. The world knows that some of the greatest of the musicians of the 20th century were from Dharwad. The more recent events, particularly the horrific murder of professor Kalburgi has shocked every right thinking person in the country. But, I do not think that Dharwad has become less safe. As for as the freedom for expression is concerned, I do not think one has to worry so long as the courage to express is not lost. Fortunately, the Constitution of India has granted us that freedom. As a person who respects the Constitution, I feel assured that one can pursue one's intellectual and social activities without fear of intimidation.
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