Mudabidre : Film director P. Sheshadri inaugurated the Alva’s Vidyarthisiri 2015 on Thursday November 26.

Inaugurating the Vidyarthisiri P. Sheshadri said the programmes like Vidyarthisiri would kindle creativity among students. One would get a bundle of information through information technology; however, students have to be cautious about making use of the information, he said.

Referring to the intolerance, Mr. Sheshadri said he is not plagued by any; adding in a lighter tone that only the hot weather in coastal Karnataka worried him. Those talking about intolerance should specify which intolerance they were talking about, he said.

Delivering the presidential address Ms. Shalika Yekkar,  an student at English-medium school, in Udupi, said she could inculcate love towards her mother tongue due to favourable environs at her school as well as parental support. However, not everyone would get such an opportunity and government intervention is required, she said.

Ms. Yekkar said Yakshagana and theatre could be the best tools to spread Kannada on campus. Programmes such as Harikathe, Yakshagana, Bayalata, Talamaddale, and theatre have been taking forward the language as an informal media of education. These practices should be made a part of informal educational curricula, she advocated.

Echoing the popular local sentiment, Ms. Yekkar urged the government to shun the Yettinahole water diversion project. “Leave our land, water and environment for us. Don’t envisage any project that destroys our land,” she said.

She had a mention about growing intolerance too. Every one needs to inculcate the values advocated by poets, saints and elders, she said.

On the occasion, the Alva’s Vidyarthisiri awards were presented to Kinnari Mela, Tumari, writer T.S. Nagaraja Shetty, Tiptur and singer Gagan G. Gaonkar of Udupi. National bravery award winner Panchami Maroor was also felicitated.

Earlier in the day, writer couple Ham. Pa. Nagarajaiah and Kamala Ham. Pa. Na., unfurled the Kannada flag at the venue.