Mangalore, Dec 9: Alleging that 'Nudisiri' the flagship literary festival of Alva's Education Foundation Moodbidri has turned 'commercial', a section of writers and activists have come forward to hold a two-day parallel literary fest named 'Jana Nudi' or the people's voice in the city from December 14 onwards. The event will have tagline 'Nudiyu sirialla, baduku'.
Spread over five sessions, writers, scholars, and activists of social and cultural organisations converging under the banner “Abhimata Mangalore” will participate in a series of discussions ranging from the feminist movement, contemporary challenges, commercialisation of culture, poetry, anxieties of the coast, among others.
“Liberalisation, commercialisation has taken over religion, education, media and even literature and culture. Conferences are being held to make profit and for brand building. The real issues that affect people are forgotten. We wanted to hold a meet that goes to the core of the issues and strives solely for literature,” said H.S. Anupama, writer, who is in the core organising committee of the event here in a press conference on Sunday.
“Crores of rupees from dubious sponsors are spent on Nudisiri. They have compromised on their core values, and song, dance and entertainment have replaced serious discussion. This year, they have got a Dharmadhikari to inaugurate the event. He is someone who has nothing to do with literature. The entire event reeks of commercialism,” said Dr Anupama adding that the Nudisiri's tradition of parading a writer on a palanquin showed glimpses of “feudal culture” wherein the common man was shown his 'leader'.
“The Jana Nudi brings back the concept of a literary fest by focusing on common people, their thoughts and traditions,” the writer said.
The two day fest starting from December 14 to be held in Kalangaan, Shaktinagar, Mangalore will see the participation of writers Rajendra Chinna, SG Siddaramaiah, Kadidalu Shamanna, Kalegowda Nagavara, Rahamat Tarikere, JP Basavaraju, Vasundhara Bhupathy among others.
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