Techie wants to popularise his grandfather’s songs

HUBBALLI: Several techies are known for their involvement in literary activities. Santosh Karki, grandson of veteran poet DS Karki, has planned to hold literary activities to attract current generation towards Kannada literature.
As part of this effort, he is holding ‘Shravana Sangeeta Sanje’ on Monday, wherein singers will present bhavageethes (light musical poems) penned by DS Karki.He has also planned to hold poetry workshops for schoolchildren in November.
Santosh Karki, who is also a cinema and TV serial actor, told TOI that followers of late Dr DS Karki have floated a literary forum called ‘DS Karki Sahitya Vedike’ decades ago.
“It has been giving out awards to poetry anthologies, publishers every year. Being a member of the Vedike., I have planned to hold at least 3 events in a year to create literary interest among today’s next generation,” he added.
It can be mentioned here that DS Karki is a household name in the state with his patriotic bhavageethe ‘Hachhevu Kannadada Deepa’. He had authored 11 books including six poetry anthologies.
DS Karki had worked as teacher, lecturer, and principal of different school-colleges-universities between 1935 to 1973 in different districts of North Karnataka region.
He was a member of central Kendra Sahitya Akademi and was honoured with various awards. He had visited Russia and France as part of the literary team of India.
Vedike president MA Subramanya commented that normally grandsons of great writers are not connected to literature and works of their ancestors. “However, Santosh is very much enthusiastic about his grandfather’s works. DS Karki had floated Sahitya Mantap in 1961 and it was renamed as DS Karki Sahitya Vedike in 1985. Enthusiasts like Niranjan Walishettar, SB Shettar, NB Ramapur and many others kept the vedike alive for decades. This Vedike has played a crucial role in inviting ace Kannada writers to Hubballi. It went inactive during Covid period but we are now restarting its activities. DS Karki Kavya prashasti will be presented for past three years in November. It has been a prestigious award in the state and it gets about 200 titles every year. We are also presenting best pubisher award on Sept 17. Apart from these activities, Santosh wants to expand Vedike activities and we will support him” he added.
Musician Radha Desai will present DS Karki’s bhavaageetes on Mondy at 6pm at Lingaraj Nagar North Samudaya Bhavan.