Amruta Someshwara showed way of life by respecting different thoughts: Vivek Rai

Writer and folklore expert Amruta Someshwara showed the way to lead life by respecting different thoughts, said scholar B.A. Vivek Rai in Mangaluru on Sunday.

Speaking at “Amruta Manthana” programme in memory of Amruta Someshwara, Mr. Rai recalled innumerable instances from his long association with the departed folklore expert. “He showed the way to lead life by respecting different thoughts,” Mr. Rai said.

A fine example of his work of building solidarity among communities, Mr. Rai said, was the lead he took in organising Rani Abbakka Utsava in 1998, which is continued till now. He involved all communities in organising the event. There are good number of people in Dakshina Kannada who have been influenced by this Utsava, he said.

Speaking about Mr. Someshwara’s work in bringing Tulu in Yakshagana, Mr. Rai said traditional Yakshagana players then said bringing Tulu into Yakshagana will devalue this traditional art form. “Without this courageous work, the Tulu language would not have developed (to the present state),” he said.

Kannada Development Authority Chairman Purushottam Bilimale said Amruta Someshwara greatly contributed in further strengthening the heritage of Tulu language, built by works of Missionaries and local legends namely Paniyadi. Mr. Someshwara showered his knowledge about Tulu art and culture with his students and researchers. His book in Kannada about Tulu ‘Paddanas’ (folk songs) is yet to be translated to English and other languages, Mr. Bilimale said.

Karnataka Sahitya Academy president L.N. Mukundraj said the secular minded works of Amruta Someshwara reflected the ethos of Kannadigas. “We are presently not seeing the mindset here. But this phase will pass by and secular mindset will come to fore in the region again,” Mr. Mukundraj said.

There was a session on “Samskrutika Chintakaragi Amrutaru”, followed by sessions on “Rangabhoomige Amrutara Koduge” and “Amruta Tatwa-Samagra Vivechane” and “Amruta Gaana”.

The programme was organised jointly by Kannada Development Authority, Karnataka Tulu Sahitya Academy, Karnataka Sahitya Academy and Kannada department of St. Aloysius (Deemed to be University).