Mangaluru: Eminent writer and columnist Narendra Rai Derla has voiced concerns over the disappearance of paddy fields, calling them the lifeline of millions. Speaking at Nirdiganta Utsava 2025 at St. Aloysius College, Mangaluru, on Sunday, he questioned the lack of interest in preserving farmlands while there is immense enthusiasm for Kambala in the name of cultural heritage.
Irony of Culture Without Conservation
“It is paradoxical that Kambala enjoys widespread support, yet no collective effort is made to protect paddy fields, which are vital for its survival,” Derla stated during a session on “Preservation of Life and Celebration of Culture.”
He lamented the neglect of farmers, calling them students of the “open university of agriculture.” The shift away from traditional farming, he warned, is driven by greed rather than necessity.
Urbanization vs. Agriculture
Derla criticized rapid urban expansion, which has seen fertile lands replaced by concrete structures. “Ploughs and sickles lie abandoned. Where fields once thrived, skyscrapers now stand. People living in them are lost in their smartphones, detached from nature,” he remarked, urging action to preserve farmland for future generations.
About Nirdiganta Utsava
Organized by Nirdiganta, a theatre incubation center founded by actor Prakash Raj, the festival is being held at St. Aloysius Deemed to be University from Feb 28 to Mar 3.
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