Enthusiasts express displeasure over omission of Yakshagana at Kannada Sahitya Sammelana in Mandya

Mangaluru: Yakshagana enthusiasts have voiced their dissatisfaction over the lack of representation for the coastal Karnataka folk art at the 87th Akhila Bharata Kannada Sahitya Sammelana held in Mandya.

The state-level Kannada literary conference, chaired by Nadoja Dr. Go Ru Channabasappa, was held from December 20 to 22. The event featured 31 diverse sessions on eight parallel platforms, with over 156 scholars addressing topics like women’s issues, environment, literature, politics, agriculture, cinema, and more.

Yakshagana Ignored Despite Precedents

Despite the rich cultural history and significance of Yakshagana, no session or discussion related to the art form was organized during the conference. This omission has disappointed Yakshagana aficionados, especially as previous conferences have included discussions on Yakshagana’s contribution to Kannada literature and culture.

In the past, a session dedicated to the legendary Yakshagana artist Parthisubba was conducted during a Kannada Sahitya Sammelana, honoring the contributions of Kannada’s greatest poets. Former Kannada Sahitya Parishat President Manu Baligar had also proposed a Yakshagana-related session during his tenure, but the event was later canceled.

Call for Inclusion in Literary Discourse

Senior scholar Prabhakar Joshi, speaking to Udayavani, emphasized the importance of Yakshagana in understanding Kannada literature holistically. He stated, “To grasp the entirety of Kannada literature, one must study Yakshagana, its rhythm, written works, and poetic essence. The omission of this important segment is a missed opportunity for the Kannada literary world. The Kannada Sahitya Parishat owes an explanation as to why this was overlooked.”

He added that including Yakshagana in the literary discourse would have elevated the event’s stature.

Response from Yakshagana Academy

Dr. Tallur Shivaram Shetty, President of the Karnataka Yakshagana Academy, expressed regret over the exclusion. “The Kannada Sahitya Sammelana should have included a session on Yakshagana. In the past, there was a proposal for such a discussion, but it has not been implemented,” he said.