Mangaluru: The Mangaluru chapter of the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) commemorated World Book Day on Wednesday with an engaging reading and discussion session focused on ‘Erughattada Nadige’, the Kannada translation of environmentalist Prof. Madhav Gadgil’s memoir, A Walk Up the Hill.
The session, moderated by INTACH Mangaluru convener Subhas Basu, took place at the Kodial Guthu Centre for Art and Culture. It featured notable guests including Kallur Nagesh, the publisher of the Kannada edition, Prof. Krishnamurthy, retired principal of Govinda Dasa College in Surathkal, and Dinesh Holla, an artist and environmentalist.
In his introduction, Basu shared his personal connection to Madhav Gadgil, recalling how he had witnessed Gadgil’s work in Bengaluru and Sirsi, where he was known for his deep community engagement. Publisher Nagesh emphasized the importance of books and language as indicators of progress, noting that despite perceptions of a decline in reading, many people struggle with finding the right books to read.
Prof. Krishnamurthy reflected on Gadgil’s early years, pointing out that he was born into a family with a 3,000-book library, which ignited his passion for knowledge and ecology. Artist Dinesh Holla highlighted Gadgil’s significant role in preserving the Western Ghats and the importance of such books in raising awareness about environmental issues.
The event concluded with a thought-provoking discussion led by journalist Jayant Kodkani, who explored Gadgil’s philosophy on development and his critique of unsustainable growth models.
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