KANNADA SAHITYA RANGA, INC.
What it stands for and what it has achieved so far
Kannada Sahitya Ranga is a national organization devoted entirely to the pursuit of Kannada literature. Its mission is to preserve and promote an active interest in Kannada literature among Kannadigas living in this country; to encourage them to write in Kannada giving expression to the thoughts and experiences accumulated over time, particularly in the cross-cultural milieu of the land of their adoption; and to provide a platform and an outlet for such literary endeavors. This it aims to achieve through frequent conferences that bring together literary enthusiasts from all over the country, publication of anthologies containing the writings of local Kannadigas, and similar related efforts.
Established in 2003, Kannada Sahitya Ranga has in a short time become a well recognized organization, noted for the quality of its programs and publications. Most American Kannada writers have written for one or the other of its books, many for the first time. It has been registered as a non-profit charitable cultural organization in New Jersey and is granted tax-exempt status by the IRS (Federal Tax EIN 20-0939357).
What it has done so far…
Conferences, Speakers and Publications: Starting in 2004, Kannada Sahitya Ranga has so far held five conferences in different parts of the country. The 6th conference is being held in Houston, Texas, in co-sponsorship with Kannada Vrinda, supported by several other Kannada organizations of Texas – Austin Kannada Koota, San Antonio Kuvempu Kannada Koota, Mallige Kannada Koota of Dallas, and Rio Grande Valley Kannada Koota. Conferences are held every other spring (odd years). At each conference we have a chief guest invited from Karnataka who delivers a keynote address on an important topic related to the development of Kannada literature. Other Special Guests are also invited. Also, a book is published containing the writings of various American Kannada authors. Some details are given below:
2013 – 6th Vasantha Sahityotsava and tenth anniversary of Kannada Sahitya Ranga at Rice University, Houston, TX, cosponsored by Houston Kannada Vrinda, with the cooperation of Mallige Kannada Association, Dallas; Austin Kannada Sangha; Kuvempu Kannada Koota, San Antonio; and Rio Grande Valley Kannada Koota.
Coference Theme: American Experience of Kannadigas.
Chief Guest: K.V.Tirumalesh
Keynote Address: Progress in Kannada, Challenges and Opportunities for Kannada.
Special Guests: S.N.Sridhar and C.N.Srinath.
Publication: ‘Beru-Sooru’ (Anthology of first person articles depicting American experience);* Ed.: Guruprasad Kaginele, Triveni Shreenivasa Rao, and Jyothi Mahadev).
2011 – 5th Vasantha Sahityotsava at Woodside, California (San Francisco Bay Area), cosponsored by North California Kannada Koota, supported by Sahitya Goshthi.
Conference Theme: Essay in Kannada Literature
Chief Guest: Dr. Sumateendra Nadig, noted poet, critic, essayist
Keynote Address: The ‘Essay’ in Kannada Literature.
Special Guest: Bhuvaneshwari Hegde, humorist, writer
Publication: ‘Mathisidashtoo Matu’ (anthology of essays), Ed.: Triveni Srinivasa Rao and M.R. Dattatri
2009 – 4th Vasantha Sahityotsava at Universities of Maryland, Rockville, MD, May 20-31, cosponsored by Kaveri Kannada Sangha.
Conference Theme: Kannada novel
Chief Guest: Dr. Veena Shanteshwara, novelist, short story writer
Keynote Address: Kannada Novel in the last quarter century*
Special guest: Vaidehi, short story writer, poet
Publication: ‘Kannada kadambari lokadalli…heege halavu…’ Ed. M.S. Nataraja
2007 – 3rd Vasantha Sahityotsava at Balaji Temple, Aurora, IL, May 19-20, cosponsored by Vidyaranya Kannada Koota.
Conference theme: Humor in Kannada Literature
Chief Guest: Prof. A.R. Mitra, scholar, writer, humorist
Keynote address: Humor in Kannada Literature*
Special guest: Dr. H.S. Raghavendra Rao, scholar, critic
Publication: ‘Nageganadam Gelge!’ Eds. H.K. Nanjundaswamy and H.Y. Rajagopal
2005 – 2nd Vasantha Sahityotsava at Hoover Herbert Middle School, Lakewood, CA, December 5, 2005, cosponsored by Karnataka Cultural Association, Southern California and supported by Kasturi Kannada Sangha, San Diego; ‘Anjali,’ Los Angeles
Conference theme: Creative writing in Kannada
Chief Guest: Prof. Baraguru Ramachandrappa, scholar, critic, film maker
Keynote address: Kannada literature and creative freedom*
Publication: ‘Acheecheya Kathegalu,’ Ed. Guruprasad Kaginele
2004 – 1st Vasantha Sahityotsava at Villanova University, Villanova, PA, May 29, 2004, cosponsored by the Department of Classical and Modern Languages and Literatures, Villanova University and supported by Triveni, the Kannada Association of Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware.
Conference theme: Kuvempu centenary celebration
Chief Guest: Dr. Prabhushankara, scholar, poet, critic
Keynote address: Kannada literature: a bird’s eye view*
Publication: ‘Kuvempu Sahitya Samikshe,’ Ed. Naga Aithal
*All keynote addresses have been separately printed.
Kannada Literature workshop
In 2006, Kannada Sahitya Ranga conducted a 2-day workshop on the development of Kannada literature from the age of stone edicts to Navodaya, the age of modern literature. The workshop was held in nine major locations in US and was conducted by Dr. N.S. Lakshminarayana Bhatta, noted poet and scholar. In addition to lecture notes, a 4-volume set of CDs was provided to the participants.
Appeal
Kannada Sahitya Ranga functions entirely by voluntary effort, with no overhead costs at all; its activities are funded by generous donations by literary enthusiasts and supporters. We appeal to all of you to support this cause. We also appeal to you to purchase our books which are available here and in bookstores in Bangalore.
We welcome you to join us in this great endeavor. American Kannadigas can make a great contribution to Kannada literature.