Ernakulam Town Hall: A new book in Kannada language, Kannada Sahityadalli Muslim Samvedane‘ which means ‘Contribution of the Muslim writers to Kannada Literature’ was released by Basavaraja C.Horatti, Honorable Speaker of the Vidhana Parishath of the Government of Karnataka, The book has been written by Udinoor Mohammad Kunhi
The book was launched at a program called ‘Cochin Kannada Cultural Festival 2023’ held at Ernakulam Town Hall. The conference of Kannada language speakers was organized for the first time in Kochi under the joint auspices of Kasaragod District Kannada Journalists Welfare Association, Karnataka Government Border Area Development Authority, Kannada Sangha Cochin, and Karnataka Working Journalists Association. A symposium, many cultural programs and a procession were held in the convention.
Udinoor Muhammad Kunhi hails from Udinoor that’s in Trikaripur Panchayat of Kasaragod district, Kerala state. The book was published by Kairali Prakashana, Subbaiyakatte, located in Kudlmerkala of Kasaragod district, Kerala state.
The book indicates that the rise of Muslim writers in the Kannada language began with the inscription and singing of folklore songs called Tatwapadas, a part of Vachana literature in Kannada. the prominent among them were Chennoor Jalal Saheba, Guru Qadari Peera, Shishanala Shareef, Motnal Hasan Saab, etc.,in the 19th century. Since then many Muslim writers have contributed immensely in all literary forms. Major literary works have been written in modern Kannada literature by many like K. S. Nisar Ahmed who is called Nityotsava Kavi, Boluvaru Muhammad Kunhi, Fakir Muhammad Kat’padi, Rahmat Tarikare, BM Hanif, Sarah Abubakar. Banu Mushtaq, K. Sharifa and many others. More than 50 prominent Muslim writers are introduced in this book. The book comprises a brief history of Kannada literature, literary contributions of ancient and modern Muslim writers, Muslim women writers and many more. Prof. Baraguru Ramachandrappa, one of the renowned writers of Kannada, wrote the foreword to the work. Ex-chief of Kannada Sahitya Parishad, Dr Manu Baligar has written the foreword.
Ravi Naikapu, the eminent Kannada journalist and writer from Kasaragod, introduced the book. Kannada Sangam Cochin General Secretary Srikanta Anavatti welcomed the gathering Dr Somashekhar IAS, Chairman, Border Area Development Authority, Government of Karnataka presided. President of Karnataka Working Journalists Association Shivananda Tagadoor delivered the welcome speech. Sri Sri Madiwala Rajayogindra Swami of Belgaum delivered the blessing speech, former Minister of Kerala Government K. Babu, Kannada Literary figures like Radhakrishnan Uliathadka, Hamza Malar, Dr Sadanada Perla, President of Kasaragod District Kannada Journalists’ Welfare Association Abdul Rahiman Subbaiyakatte, Founder of Kasaragod Kannada Bhavan Vaman Rao Bekal, Sandhya Rani Teacher Badrudeen K Mani (Public TV) and many other dignitaries participated.
