Udupi: Chairman of Karnataka Lalithkala Academy V.T. Kale said on Sunday that the aim of the art camp organised here was to encourage artists to draw paintings of leaders who fought for the unification of Karnataka.

He was speaking after inaugurating an art camp organised by the academy here.

Mr. Kale said that the paintings by artists would also focus on the difficult situations faced by those leaders.

Such camps focusing on the unification of the State were being held in different regions of the State.

Volume

He said that the best paintings would be collected and a volume on these paintings would be brought by the academy.

Project

The academy also had a project focussing on the art by the tribal people of the State. Another project of the academy was to bring out the history of development of art in different regions of the State, he said.

Nityananda Padre welcomed the gathering. P.N. Acharya delivered the introductory remarks.

Vice-Chancellor of Manipal University Raj Warrier, Deputy Registrar T. Ranga Pai, former Chairman of the academy Peter Lewis, and Resident Editor of Mangalore edition of Vijay Karnataka U.K. Kumarnath were present.

Udupi: President of the Kannada Book Authority S.G. Sidharamaiah said on Sunday that local culture should be protected and promoted.

He was speaking at a function to release 10 Kannada books focusing on the life and achievements of 10 eminent persons under the series "Nadige Namaskara" by the Kantawara Kannada Sangha, here.

The books that were released are: D. Veerendra Heggade written by B.T. Sampat Kumar; Bannanje Govindacharya by B. Ramesh Bhat; U.P. Upadhyaya by S.R. Arun Kumar; Janardhan Gurkur by B. Janardhan Bhat; Mandar Keshava Bhat by Niketan; Kedambady Jathappa Rai by V.G. Naik; Muliya Gopalkrishna Rao by Janardhan; Sadananda Suvarna by Seethalakshmi Karkikodi; Palathadka Keshava Bhat by Vasanth Kumar Perla; and Vasantkumar Rao Kaikamba written by Vishweshwara V.K.

Mr. Sidharamaiah said that globalisation entailed the imposition of a uniform culture all over the world. This was not a good development, he said added that diversity should be appreciated. The sangha was trying to develop native knowledge, he said.

Mr. Sidharamaiah said literature should lead to the development of harmonious relationship in the society. It should bring people close to one another.

It was essential that the upper classes should treat the lower classes with affection. Social justice was the means to ensure equality between all classes. This was the way to deepen human relations, he added.

There was a real danger of collapse of human relations in families and society in the next 10 years owing to the excessive importance being given to sectors such as information technology and biotechnology, Mr. Sidharamaiah said.

Some decades ago, books were being brought out by publishing houses which had real love for books.

Now book publication and distribution had become a commercial affair. Low quality books were being supplied to libraries. Unlike in the past, libraries had no importance now.

It was the books being published in small towns that held promise, Mr. Sidharamaiah added.

Former president of Kannada Sahitya Parishath Harikrishna Punaroor, writer D.K. Chowta and president of the sangha N. Mogasale were present.

Alice Braganza (84), wife of the late Lawrence Braganza of Moovattumudi, Hemmady, passed away on May 6, 2007.

Funeral cortege leaves Moovattumudi residence for Immaculate Conception of BVM church, Gangolli at 3-30 pm on Monday, May 7.

Phone + 91 8254 278289

Augustine Lewis (74) of Airody, Sastan, passed away on May 5, 2007.

Funeral service in St Thomas Orthodox Syrian Church, Sastan, Udupi at 3-30 pm on Monday, May 7.

Kundapur, May 6: A twelve-year-old boy hit news headlines after swimming into record books on Saturday May 5. Harshith Kharvi, of Kharvi Keri here set a new record by swimming a distance of 25 kilometres with his hands and legs bound in chains.

Harshith plunged into the Arabian sea at Gangolli at 10 am and reached the shores at Herikudru at 2.30.  Thus by covering a distance of 25 kilometres in 4.30 hours he re-wrote records. His achievement would soon go into “Shabaash India” book of Record.

Harshith took to swimming at an early age just as fish takes to water.  It would not be an exaggeration if one says that swimming has become the middle name of Harshith.  His achievements even at this tender age are mind-boggling.

Just as the fragrance of a flower cannot be hidden so too Harshith’s records cannot be ignored.  He was notice by another ace-swimmer Dayanand Kharvi and his achievement caught the attention of the latter. 

Though he suggested him to try to enter into Limca and Guinnes books of records, Shabaash India came forward first and reached here on Saturday May 5.

Prabhakar Sharma, Assistant Commissioner who was present on the spot appreciated Harshith and wished all the best.

Udupi: Vishwesha Tirtha Swamiji of Pejawar Math said on Saturday that it was necessary to protect medicinal plants.

He was speaking at a seminar on medicinal plants organised by the Sri Dhanwantri Seva Pratishtanam, here.

The seer said that Indians loved forests and nature. In fact, they called Charaka and Sushrata as "rishis" because of the research conducted by the two on medicinal plants. It was necessary for everyone in society to take care of trees and medicinal plants, he said.

Chairman of Third Finance Commission of Karnataka A.G. Kodgi said that in the past 15 years there had been more awareness about Indian culture. Even the Government was now taking steps to protect medicinal plants, he said.

Deputy Conservator of Forests Rajashekar said temples could play a vital role in preserving rare medicinal plants, he added.

MUNICIPALITY DRIVE: Temporary structure on the Poornaprajna College Road in Udupi being removed by municipal workers on Saturday.

Udupi: The Udupi municipality on Saturday started taking action against encroachments on the Poornaprajna College Road here.

The municipality had earlier asked the shopkeepers and owners of other establishments to clear the encroachments, which were in the form of tin sheds and concrete steps, on the road.

This move by the authorities will make the road wider.

Owners of many shops and establishments themselves cleared the encroachments when the municipal personnel came with an earthmover. In some places, concrete steps were removed with the earthmover. Deputy Commissioner V. Ponnuraj visited the spot and gave directions to the officials. He asked the owners of shops and other establishments to voluntarily remove the encroachments.

Later, the Deputy Commissioner along with Superintendent of Police A.S. Rao, Regional Transport Officer M.P. Onkareshwari and Commissioner of the municipality Gokuldas Nayak visited the Maruthi Veethika Road to inspect the encroachments.

The municipality has asked the owners of two petty mobile shops and a telephone booth to leave the area within three days.

Meanwhile, a blocked drainage at Bailkere area was cleared with the help of a machine brought from Mangalore.

Kundapur, May 4: Uppunda Chandrashekhar Holla, president of Udupi chapter of Kannada Sahitya Parishat and champion of culture-based urban development will shortly complete his sixty years.

He will be felicitated on Saturday May 5 at 11 am in the Shankara Kala Mandir of government PU College of Uppunda under the joint auspices of J C Surabhi Mahadeva Academy, Mahila Multicooperative society and rural development union.

Nilavar Surendra Adiga’s book “Sanskritika Santa” written on Holla will be released by Harikrishna Punaroor, former president of Kannada Sahitya Parishat. Two more books by Suvratananda Swamiji of Biju Guppe of Belgaum district of Ramadurga taluk and Bharathi Maravante, well known rangoli artiste will also be release in honour of Holla on the occasion.

The celebration would be marked by liberal donation of books to some sixty schools and colleges, distribution of merit certificates, books to around sixty students of distinction and by cash distribution to 60 private SSLC students who scored more than 80% in the exam.