News n Pics : Vishwas, Barkur
The historic town of Barkur witnessed an enriching gathering of young literary enthusiasts as it hosted the 21st Children's Literature Conference on Saturday, December 28, 2024. The day-long event, held at the Swami Purushottamanandaji Sahitya Vedike at Sankamma Taayi Resorts, brought together high school students from across Udupi district.
The conference, organized by the Swami Vivekananda and Swami Purushottamanandaji Charitable Trust in collaboration with Shanthivana Trust, Srikshestra Dharmasthala, and the Rotary Club of Barkur, commenced with an inaugural ceremony presided over by Brovin Agera, a tenth-grade student from SNV High School, Hiriangadi, Karkala.
Renowned theater personality and director from Bangalore, S.N. Sethuram, inaugurated the conference with a traditional lamp-lighting ceremony, symbolizing the dispelling of ignorance and the illumination of knowledge. Speaking at the inaugural session, S.N. Sethuram emphasized the universal essence of literature, stating, "Literature belongs to all. It transcends boundaries and speaks the language of humanity." He further elaborated on the importance of nurturing literary interests during adolescence, describing teenage years as the pivotal phase for reinventing oneself and embracing creative pursuits. Encouraging the young participants, he remarked, "This is the right time to discover your potential and immerse yourselves in the magical world of words." Sethuram also extended his heartfelt gratitude to the organizers and sponsors for their commendable efforts in collaborating for such a noble cause. "Bringing young minds together to celebrate literature is a remarkable achievement. A big salute to everyone who made this event possible," he said.
Anthony Prakash D'Souza, a distinguished recipient of both the Karnataka and Goa State Sahitya Academy Awards, in Konkani spoke from the heart as he reminisced about his primary and high school days, reflecting on how his teachers and simple storybooks rekindled his interest in epics, moral stories and Panchatantra tales. These early influences, he shared, inspired him to later document his lifetime experiences through the power of words.
The event marked a significant milestone with the release of an anthology of poems written by students, which was unveiled by Rotarian Rajarama Shetty, Zone Lieutenant of Rotary Zone-III, International Rotary District-3182.
It was really a feast of feelings to listen to Master Brovin Agera the Class X students, of SNV High School, Hiriyangadi, Karkaka - as he spoke with authority and conviction.
A highlight of the inaugural ceremony was the felicitation of notable achievers, including B. Sitaram Tholpadittaya, Secretary of Shanthivana Trust, who is a recipient of the Karnataka State Award and I.Shashikanth Jain. The ceremony also honored Umesh Kundar from Hoskere, Barakuru, an International Para Olympiad participant, and Udayakumar Hosala, a state award recipient in the field of disability services.
The conference featured diverse sessions, including a children's poetry symposium chaired by Ms. Vaishali, a tenth-grade student from SMS English Medium (CBSE) School, Brahmavara. The symposium was coordinated by Radhesh Tholpadi S., a children's literature expert and English lecturer at Government Pre-University College, Benjanpadavu.
Two thought-provoking seminars enriched the conference: one on "Literature and the Quest for Truth" by S.N. Sethuram, and another on "Swaroopa - Memory Education" by Mr. Gopadkar from Swaroopa Study Center, Mangaluru.
The valedictory ceremony was graced by Prabhakara Shetty Kondalli, President of the Kannada Sahitya Parishat's Karkala Taluk Unit, who delivered the closing address. Bhaskara Shetty, Principal of Government First Grade College, Barakuru, and Sakharam Somayaji, Honorary Guide of Shrivani Vidyavardhaka Sangha, Nadooru, attended as chief guests.
Ramabhat Sajangadde, along with Rotarian Ganesh Shetty B., President of Rotary Club Barkur, and Kishore Gonsalves of barkuronline.com expressed their satisfaction with the conference's success in fostering literary appreciation among young minds.
The event, which ran from 9:30 AM to 4:15 PM, also recognized high school students who had qualified for national-level competitions after succeeding at the state level during the current academic year. The conference successfully fulfilled its objective of promoting literary awareness and creative expression among high school students, living up to its motto "Rise, Stand up; Don't stop until you reach your goal."
