Raichur ready for grand Sahitya Sammelan

Raichur: Preparations are in full swing for the 82nd Akhil Bharatha Kannada Sahitya Sammelan to be held in Raichur early December.  It promises to be a grand affair with the state government  sanctioning Rs 4 crore for organising it.

While the logo of the sammelana has been released, its new president will be elected at the executive committee meeting of the Kannada Sahitya Parishat in New Delhi on October 8 and 9.

Minister for Primary and Secondary Education Tanvir Sait, who is also distict in charge minister, noted that the grant for the sammelana this year was far more than the Rs. 1.50 crore usually allotted to the Department of Kannada and Culture for organising it.

The literary festival, which was supposed to be organised in the city last year, was postponed in view of the severe drought in the region. But with most parts of the Hyderabad- Karnatak region, including Raichur district, received heavy rain this year, it has been decided to go ahead with it.  District president of the Sahitya Parishat, Basavaprabhu Bettadur  said over 20 sub-committees had been formed for overseeing the arrangements for  the event. “ As Raichur is a farming district, special sessions will be held on agriculture and irrigation,” he added.

Meanwhile the Rangamandir in Raichur city, named after the renowned Hindustani classical music vocalist, Pandit Siddarama Jambaladinni, has been thrown open to the public. The auditorium, which first opened in April 1999, was renovated in two phases at a cost of Rs 1.60 crore.