'Our poetry exists for singing & for engaging in conversation through song': Sahitya Akademi president

Jnanpith awardee and eminent Kannada Poet Chandrashekara Kambara reiterated that he has lost touch with poems which are expressed through “words and conversations.”

“The emotions are well expressed when a poem is sung, not read aloud,” he said. He backed his practice of writing verses, as a means to evoke emotions from people, regardless of who they are.

“I wrote poetry to make people aware of what they know and what inspires them,” he explained. Kambara, who is also the recipient of the Padma Bhushan award, had his education stopped, owing to Poverty. However, his poetry had changed his life, as he was encouraged by a few, and eventually the masses.

“I always recall Shivaram Karanth, when I write poems, " he said.

Then Kambara recited a verse from one of his works. B.V Karanth, who moderated the session, lauded Kambara in revolutionizing Kannada literature.

“Kambara took hold of Kannada and enriched it.He gave a unique touch to Kannada literature,” he said.

English Translation of Kannada Mahabharata released, translation open to public

The much renowned work of 15th century scholar Kumara Vyasa’s Mahabharata, now has its English Translation unveiled to the gathering here by SN Sridhar, Krishnamurthy Hanuru and CN Ramachandran.

This comes as a mov to put Vyasa amongst the “Pantheon of great Indian writers”.

Ramachandran, had explained the essence of translating such works. The book which has translated 8000 out of 25,000 verses, was done while retaining the essence of the verses.

“The nuances in his verses are represented in the translations,” he said.

The scholars, who worked with a team of Kannada scholars had made sure the texts are not archaic and are easy to understand, while retaining the sense of Vyasa’s writing. Later, the scholars deliberate on the essence of Translation, calling it an act of choice and interpretation.

“Translation should never be professional, it should also be an act of love,” SN Sridhar said. Later, the public were invited to give their inputs on these translations, inviting different interpretations on Kumara Vyasa’s works.

Bangalore Blues: A documentation of the city fabricated out of ‘submerged documents’

ABook titled “Bangalore Blues,” written by theatre artist and scriptwriter Kirtana Kumar discusses the themes of sexuality, gender and inclusion of different cultures, with the old city area from postindependence pre liberalisation era in mind.

Kumar, explained the reason behind the title “Blues” with the reading of a chapter. The author, who had written this book from outside the city, admitted that the distance helped her recall instances.

“The distance made me recall Bangalore, the areas around the cantonment, the Mount Carmel College and areas surrounding it,” she explained to the gathering.

Kumar also elucidated the process behind the fictional stories. “Banks and gazettes around the city have letters, diaries and recipes, and this is where stories and ideas are ungrounded, She said.

Later in the session, Kumar read the chapter “Churchill’s bill, which touches on Former Prime Minister Winston Churchill’s stay in Whitefield and his controversial remarks on the city.