Mangalore, December 10: The 'Beary Sammelana-2011' got off to a meaningful start, when Akshara Santha Harekala Hajabba released five new titles on Beary community and culture in the presence of literary and cultural giants of Beary language at the 'B M Idinabba Vedike' at Town Hall in the city on Saturday.
The audiences were spell bound when Mr Hajabba started his inaugural address saying, “I am nothing but a poor Beary. It is the society and media which glorified me.”
He exhorted the Beary community to give utmost priority to the education of their children. “Our children need both worldly and religious education”, said Mr Hajabba, who despite being an illiterate has succeeded in setting up a school in the remote New Padpu village, about 35 kilometre from Mangalore.
He also expressed his gratitude to the Academy for bestowing the honour of becoming the inaugurator of a literary conference. “I am grateful to the Academy for this great honour although I know that I am not worthy of it”, he said.
“I even did not know to speak in front of people. But, in the course of my struggle to establish the school for the deprived children I learned to convey my feelings in my own way”, said Mr Hajabba, who after speaking five minutes in Beary, switched over to Kannada.
On the occasion, Mr Hajabba was conferred with the tittle 'Akkarada Avadhoota' in recognition of his contribution towards the field of literacy.
The five newly released books are 'Perime', an edited research work, 'The Bearys of Tulunadu' by Prof. B M Ichlangodu, 'Tulunadina Byarigalu', translated by Tufail Mohammed, 'The Beary Language', by Dr Sushila P Upadyaya, and 'Beary Baashe, translated by Dr Sushila P Upadyaya.
In his lenghty welcome speech, M.B. Abdul Rahman, president of the Beary Sahitya Academy, insisted that Beary community had utmost respect for Kannada. Hitting back at the allegations that the conference had become a Kannada meet and the real Beary writers had been sidelined, Mr. Rahman said "There is not a single Beary in the audience who would not know Kannada. The script of the Beary language is also Kannada."
Responding to the allegations the title of the conference "Beary Sammelana" gave it a communal colour, Mr. Rahman said, nobody had objected when Konkani, Tulu meetings were held. But, some people raised objection about organising a meeting under the banner of Beary. This is a ridiculous and frivolous ground to oppose the meething.
The Sammelan was launched in the true Beary tradition by spraying paneer, applying athar and distributing dry grapes, kalkandi and banana. The inaugural function saw a large turnout with the Bearys participating in the meeting with great enthusiasm.
T.K. Raheem, the founder president of Beary Parishath, intoduced the new books. Paying his repsects to B.M. Idinabba, Balakrishna Shetty Polali and Wahab Doddamane, Mr. Raheem said the trio had palyed a key role in preserving the Beary language and culture.
He also praised Dr. Susheela Upadhyaya, the liguist who did her PhD thesis on Beary language. "It is unfortunate that it took three decades to bring out her research work in the book form," he said. He also insisted that by carrying out extensive language about the Beary language and culture, Ms. Upadhyaya had shown to the world that language was not the private property of any particular community or religious group.
Hamza Malar, member of Beary Sahitya Academy, compered the programme. B.A. Moidin, former minister, U.T. Khader, Mangalore MLA, Syed Mohammed Beary, T.K. Umar, Abdul Rauf Puthige, industrialists, Prof. B.M. Ichlangodu, Dr. Susheela Upadhaya, journalists Thufail Muhammad, Hameed Palya, Khairunnisa of Asare Foundation, Zohara Abbas, principal Al-Badria Composite Pre-University College, Krishnapur, were on the dias.
Comments
Add new comment