Mangaluru (The Hindu):Four-day literary-cultural extravaganza Alva’s Nudisiri flagged off. The growing discussions on intolerance in the country dominated the inaugural of the four-day Alva’s Nudisiri in Moodbidri near here where the inaugurator and the Sarvadhyaksha of the literary-cultural event struck a conciliatory note saying everyone needs to exercise patience.

Inaugurating the 12th edition of the mega event, writer and retired professor Veena Shantheshwara said individual freedom appears to have taken over equality, as feared by B.R. Ambedkar. The individual freedom is being threatened by traditionalism, she said.

Ms. Shantheshwara said actor Kamal Hassan’s statement that intolerance is not new to India and no political party should be targeted in fight against intolerance is worth debating. “I have always been optimistic and hope that programmes like Nudisiri would infuse harmony among the masses,” she said.

She stressed the need for a new national education policy featuring contemporary democratic values and a national agriculture policy to offer scientific prices for agriculture produces.

In his presidential address, Sarvadhyaksha of Nudisiri 2015, T.V. Venkatachala Shastri, said over the years the cordial ties between social life and literary activities are getting loosened while strife is on the rise.

Regretting recent attacks on intellectuals and writers in the recent days, Mr. Shastri said the country has lost a great intellectual like M.M. Kalburgi. He said while society has to protect the interest of writers, writers have to uphold society’s interest: both should exercise absolute patience.

Mr. Shastri said blaming or attacking a redundant old practice and attacking the present generation would severely affect the young minds. Such practices might have remained symbolically at individual/household levels. No one has patience to understand the scientific reasoning behind such practices.

Mr. Shastri said society would take its own corrective course to suit the situation by shedding the old skin. There is no need for agitation or fights for the same.

A colourful procession preceded the inaugural which was attended by over 35,000 literary-cultural buffs from across the state. Alva’s Foundation Chairman M. Mohan Alva, past presidents of Nudisiri Ham. Pa. Nagarajaiah, B.A. Vivek Rai, Kamala Ham. Pa. Na., and others were present.

Photo credit: The Hindu