Mangalore, December 11: Union Minister for Corporate Affairs, M. Veerappa Moily on Sunday, kicked up a possible row by announcing at a public forum that he had not been invited for the 78th Kannada Sahitya Sammelan, currently under way in Gangavathi.
The three-day event in the North Karnataka town had seen a galaxy of political leaders including chief minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda and a host of ministers attending various sessions. Mr. Gowda had attended the inaugural-day ceremony.
Speaking at the 'Sahithigalondige Mukhamukhi', an interactive session with noted writers as part of the Beary Sahitya Sammelan at Town Hall, Mr. Moily said, “I have not got an invite for the Sammelan. I don't claim to be a great writer. But definitely I have contributed my bit to literature. It is sad that they (Sahitya Parishat) did not consider me worthy of inviting. I don't expect me to be called as a guest. I would have run to Gangavathi as a member of the audience. Unfortunately, the Sahitya Parishat people don't know whom they should invite.”
Mr. Moily spoke extensively about the cultural plurality of India and the role played by different languages in strengthening the pluralism of the country.
Mr. Moily, a Kannada writer of impeccable fame, is known for his magnum opus Ramayana Mahanveshanam and is currently engaged in writing a novel on Draupadi.
A trule lover of literature and culture, Mr. Moily attended the Sammelan despite having other engagements later in the day. "I was invited to attend the valedictory function. But I had some other engagements later in the day. I have to travel to Mumbai and later to Delhi. So please forgive me for gatecrashing," Mr. Moily said. Even after his 30-minute long speech he came down from the dias and remained seated in the front row and listened to Dr. Jayanth Kaikini, P. Sheshadri and Vaidehi in rapt attentioin as a member of the audience.
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