Bangalore : The State capital is all set to witness a cultural extravaganza and hear more than a smattering of Kannada for three days beginning Friday.
The annual Kannada Sahitya Sammelana — “Kannada jaathre” would be a more fitting description — will be hosted here, giving an opportunity to Bangaloreans to savour the taste of Kannada language and literature.
Kannada Sahitya Parishat has selected Bangalore, where speaking Kanglish or Hinglish is the preferred lingo even for Kannadigas, to host the event after a gap of 41 years. Over the years, the demography of the City has changed, as also its brand image. It has become synonymous with  IT, BT, science & technology and international schools. It has been given the tag of a cosmopolitan city with Kannadigas being reduced to a minority.
Going by the arrangements made for the 77th sammelana, it appears the organisers may not  expect even this minority population to throng  the three-day event.
The venue, National College grounds in Basavanagudi, can accommodate a maximum of 15,000 to 20,000 people at a time. The grounds will accommodate about 400 book stalls besides a huge stage where the main events will take place.
However, no parking arrangements for vehicles have been made at the venue.
The previous sammelanas held at Gadag and Chitradurga drew not less than one lakh visitors every day.
A positive element this time is that there is no friction or ugly debates about the selection of the conference president Prof G Venkatasubbaiah, a prolific writer and lexicographer, who will deliver the customary presidential address at the inauguration on Friday.
Over the three days, there will be 15 conferences, mainly on literature. Some of them will be held at Kuvempu Kalakshetra and Mahila Samaja, located nearby. While there will be an exclusive session on Bangalore, there will be no discussion how advances in IT could be better used for Kannada teaching, adopting Kannada in administration and creating insterest in Kannada literature among the young.
For the record, there are about 4,000 Kannada blogs which suggest the language is alive in the new media.
Home Minister R Ashoka had said the corporate world did not respond to the government’s invite to attend a preparatory meeting for the sammelana which Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa will inaugurate. The organisers could have done more to pitch the sammelana to netizens and also create a festive atmosphere.

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