RAJYOTSAVA CELEBRATION CONTINUES
Chitradurga
Dr. J. Kariyappa Malige, Principal of Chitradurga Government College of Arts (Autonomous) and member of Kuvempu Bhashabharati Authority, emphasized understanding the historical milestones of Karnataka’s unification and renaming during Kannada Rajyotsava celebrations. Speaking at the event organized by the Kannada Studies Department of Davanagere University’s Postgraduate Study Centre at G.R. Halli’s Jnanagangotri auditorium, he noted that both unification and renaming hold deep cultural significance, symbolizing Kannada identity and the pride of Karnataka.
He recalled how freedom fighters and Kannada organizations played pivotal roles in these movements, highlighting Aluru Venkataraya’s 1912 work Karnataka Gatha Vaibhava, which chronicled Karnataka’s rich history—from the rule of Kannada kings, Vijayanagara’s rise and fall, Maratha and Nizam periods, to British rule—while fostering awareness among the public. Dr. Kariyappa explained that India’s independence and Karnataka’s unification were results of collective struggles led by various cultural and political organizations, with North Karnataka contributing significantly.
He outlined that pre-independence Karnataka was divided into nearly 20 administrative units, with Kannada-speaking regions scattered across Mysore State, Hyderabad Nizam, Bombay Presidency, Madras Presidency, and Kodagu. Except for Mysore, most regions were under non-Kannada administrations. The post-unification consolidation on November 1, 1956, and the eventual renaming of Mysore State to Karnataka in 1973 under then-CM Devaraj Urs, came after years of sustained advocacy by writers, artists, traders, researchers, and the general public.
Dr. H.G. Vijaykumar, Professor of Kannada at the centre, stressed that Kannada Rajyotsava is more than a November celebration—it is a daily recognition of Karnataka’s language, land, and culture. The event was attended by faculty members, postgraduate students, and researchers, including Prof. Satyanarayana, Dr. Shantaraj, Dr. R. Rupesh Kumar, Dr. R. Shashidhar, Dr. Keertikumar, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, Dr. Sharan Raj, and Dr. T. Sundaram.
