Gauri Lankesh’s shadow looms over meet

MYSURU: The heritage city is set to host the 83rd

Akhila Bharata Kannada Sahitya Sammelana

, starting Friday. Organizers are expecting anywhere between 1.5 lakh and 1.90 lakh visitors for this three day literary event. Various contemporary issues are expected to be discussed and if sources in the Parishat are to be believed, no resolution will be passed during the event.

This is the fifth Akhila Bharata Kannada Sahitya Sammelana to be held in the city.

Sahitya Parishat Mysuru

district unit president Y D Rajanna said all preparations are complete.

“Delegates have started arriving in the city to participate in the event. More than 200 food counters and many reception counters have been set up to ensure there is no confusion. We are expecting smooth sailing,” he said.

According to Parishat sources, this year’s sammelana is expected to focus on contemporary issues. Rajanna said journalist, writer and activist Gauri Lankesh’s murder is expected to throw its shadow on the event. “Sammelana president Chandrashekar Patil is expected to raise a few contemporary issues in his address, including the anxiety looming in society following Gauri’s murder,” he said.

“Other issues expected to come up for discussion include regional imbalance, literary criticism and awareness about the language,” he said. “The Cauvery, Krishna and Mahadayi water disputes will also be discussed.”

The Sammelana is expected to pressure the government to safeguard the interests of students of Karnataka State Open University (KSOU) and excluding Hampi Kannada University from the proposed State University (Amendment) Act.

Chief minister Siddaramaiah will formally inauguratetheevent at theKuvempu Pradhana Vedike of Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar Mahamantapa, located at Maharaja’s College grounds.

Publishers protest

On Thursday, several publishers who arrived from Raichur, Kalaburagi and Hubballi held aflash protest alleging that the organizers had not made any arrangements or provided basic facilities for them. They said they had received text messages stating that their book stalls were ready at the venue and stall numbers allotted. But when they arrived on Thursday morning with books loaded in trucks, they found that stall work was not completed and even drinking water was not provided.