BV Kakkillaya,
Mangalore
These days some festivals or Nityotsavas are being organized in one town or the other in Karnataka. Of course, these festivals organized with much fanfare are not the natural Nityotsavas as told by poet Nisar Ahmed in his famous song ‘Nityotsava Thaye Nityotsava.’ In fact these Nityotsavas are aimed at securing power and to protect vested interests and are artificial festivals being organized at government expense by the ruling party. These Utsavas only try to highlight the so called past glory that was prevalent at one time.
In the Tuluva festival held at Ujire one had a glimpse of the discrimination on the basis of caste and creed while glorifying the richness. As known to us a sum of Rs one crore has been contributed to this festival from the state ex-chequer. The very next day the government sanctioned Rs 5 crores from the treasury for a Paryaya Utsava being held to propagate one sect , while also promising a grant of Rs 50 crore. As if this is not suffice, a sum of Rs 13 crores has been sanctioned to celebrate the 500 years of coronation of the great ruler of Vijayanagara Empire Krishnadevaraya.
There is no objection to the spending of government funds for the revival and development of Hampi. These would remain as cultural glories of our land. Though Sri Krishnadevaraya no doubt was a great ruler, it is certainly mot justifiable to dump funds in the name of a festival to celebrate his coronation anniversary.
Several kingdoms had ruled Karnataka in the past. It is all recorded in history as to how the foreign forces converted India into its colony after taking advantage of the strife between the ruling kingdoms. This being the case, instead of going in for such superficial celebrations, it may be proper for the government to organize programmes what would highlight the contributions of great sons of the soil including the farmers, artisans, and original inhabitants who have fought to protect their land its resources.
When the nation celebrated its Republic Day this year, what we expect from the government is for it to make public the statistics pertaining to the funds spent by it to mitigate the hardships of the flood hit people as well as those who suffered in natural calamities and also the schemes it has implemented for the welfare of the masses. At the same time there should not be any anger when there are words of caution that the government should have to walk out if it fails to do something in the above respect.
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