Udupi, (The Hindu): B. Takappa Kannur, chairman of Karnataka Janapada Academy, said on Wednesday that while there was lot of talk of bringing tribal communities into the mainstream, more and proper efforts were not being made to achieve it.

He was speaking at the inaugural function of the seminar on tribal culture and folklore organised by the Department of Kannada and Culture, Karnataka Janapada Academy, Regional Resources Centre for Folk Performing Arts, Manipal Academy of Higher Education and Mahatma Gandhi Memorial College, here.

The 102-year-old Dollu drum artiste Guruva Koraga was felicitated on the occasion.

Mr. Kannur said that any attempt to bring the tribal community to the mainstream should be done without any discrimination. In some instances, there had been sincere efforts, but in others, efforts were lacking, he said. He lauded the contribution of Mr. Koraga to the artform of Dollu drum beating. Mr. Koraga had been contributing for such a long time and had enhanced the art’s value. It was in recognition of his contribution that he had been conferred with the Karnataka Janapada Academy Prashasti at Sagar in Shivamogga district in 2017, Mr. Kannur said.

Earlier, inaugurating the seminar, H.S. Ballal, Pro-Chancellor of Manipal Academy of Higher Education, said that even after seven decades of Independence, tribal communities had not joined the mainstream. It was only when they were brought into the mainstream that it would help in the progress of the country, he said.

He said that Mr. Koraga was still in good health even at 102 years and could still hold the heavy Dollu drums. He was a simple and a kind person, Prof. Ballal said.

Poornima, Assistant Director of Kannada and Culture; U.P. Upadhyaya, linguist and scholar; and others, were present.