Conference, bird watching held on Kannada writer Tejaswi’s birth anniversary

MYSURU: On his birth anniversary, Kannada writer KP Poornachandra Tejawsi’s life, works, hobbies and activities were recollected by his friends and colleagues on Sunday.
Abhiruchi Publications, as part of its 26th anniversary and the birth anniversary celebrations, hosted a conference on Tejaswi called Hakki Pukka, in association with Karnataka Rajya Raita Sangha, Harisu Sene, Nirantana, Swaraj Abhiyana and Manava Mantapa at the mini theatre of Kalamandira.
As a part of Hakki Pukka, a bird watching was organised at Kukkarahalli Lake. Since Tejaswi was an avid bird watcher and photographer, children and adults of the city walked near the lake identifying different birds. Birders D Tanuja and Shivaprakash guided them.
The bird watching programme was launched by farmer leader Darshan Puttannaiah. President of Karnataka Rajya Raita Sangha, Badagalapura Nagendra stated that despite being a post-graduate student, Tejaswi went and settled in a village practicing agriculture.
Environment, flora, fauna and farming were his favourites. However, the present generation of youths are migrating to urban areas. Tejaswi would stand as inspiration to youths, the farmer leader said.
Noted documentary makers Krupakar-Senani, who inaugurated the Hakki Pukka programme, displayed their documentary, Mayaloka, based on the life of the writer.
Senani recalled his days of friendship with Tejaswi. “Whenever he wanted to see us, he would just give a call. Sometimes, in the name of new variety of birds, he would invite us home and take us around fishing. He was so strong that even at the age of 50 years, Tejaswi could plough land with ease,” Senani said.
Speaking on the mushrooming homestays in the Western Ghats, Senani remembered how, six months after the death of Tejaswi, one of the residents of Mudigere compared Tejaswi to a ferocious tiger and said, every timber and sand mafia gang would fire at the tiger, but now he is dead.
At the Suchitra Art Gallery, more than a hundred photographs of insects were displayed. Given that Tejaswi was associated with birds and insect photography, he was remembered through the exhibition.
On the occasion, a translated version of Tejaswi’s novel Jugari Cross was released. Writer Ravi Hunj translated the book from Kannada to English.