Mangalore needs Lankesh's ideals'

Mangalore, March 11: Karnataka misses P Lankesh badly today, for it has been subjected to unfair and unjust rule of the BJP government, said Devanoor Mahadeva, noted Kannada litterateur and social activist.

He was speaking at 'Lankesh-77' organized by the Gowri Lankesh Patrike in Mangalore on Sunday, as part of Lankesh's 77th birth anniversary.

Lankesh, Mr. Mahadeva said, strived to address the injustices of governments and urged that the journalistic values that he believed in are a necessity today to oppose the ruling BJP government in the state. “Today Karnataka is suffering at the hands of the BJP. The first thing they did after coming to power is kill the sense of shame. Today, no matter what they do, they are not shameful about it and are trying to justify it and making it acceptable in the society. They chant 'culture' all the time but have killed it on the floor of the House in the Assembly themselves”, he said.

Gowri Lankesh, Chief Editor of Gowri Lankesh Patrike and daughter of P Lankesh, who presided over the inaugural session, said in her address that whether it was P Lankesh or whether it is the current unit of the Patrike, do not consider journalism and activism as two different things. She also said that she decided to hold the programme in Mangalore this time around because she felt Mangalore needs Lankesh's ideals and his stand on issues ranging from communalism to development. “We all know Mangalore is being treated as the Gujarat laboratory. Mangalore is in need of the values and principles that P Lankesh followed in order to combat growing communalism”, she said.

Speaking on the occasion Parvatheesh, Editor, Gowri Lankesh Patrike, said that P Lankesh's unique qualities included spotting the barbarism hidden behind the veils of issues that seemingly appear beautiful.

K L Ashok, Secretary, Karnataka Komu Souharda Vedike, expressing his thoughts on P Lankesh said that Lankesh brought about a change in thinking circles with his works. “He would say no matter what field you are in, do not be corrupt. But today wherever we see, be it politics, literature or even journalism, there is corruption. When we see as to where our values have gone and which way we are heading towards, we feel Lankesh's absence. However, the Gowri Lankesh Patrike is still fighting in that direction and is still a hope for the hopeless”, he said.

Suresh Bhat Bakrabail, peace activist, released and commented on the book “Panchali”. Three other books “Nanna Preetiya Bharatha” by Jim Corbett, “Mareyuva Munna” and “Helutene Kela” were also released on the occasion.

Following the inaugural session, a session on the theme 'Crises faced by Coastal Karnataka' was held. G Rajashekhar, President, Udupi chapter of Karnataka Komu Souharda Vedike, presented a paper on the topic. Writer Sara Aboobakkar presided over the session.

The afternoon session (session 2) will focus on “Turmoil in Karnataka”. K Phaniraj, activist, will present a paper on the topic. Rajaram Tolpady will preside over the session.