Chikkamagaluru: Veteran Kannada actor Doddanna called on parents to encourage their children to gain knowledge through reading books rather than using mobile phones. He said the responsibility of teaching the epics Mahabharata and Ramayana to today’s children lay with parents.Doddanna spoke at the inauguration of the 10th Kannada Sahitya Sammelan of Koppa taluk, organised in Kogre, here. “Kannada literature is pure. It has a history spanning thousands of years. It is disheartening that Kannada is drifting away day by day due to the influence of Western languages and culture,” he said.He said that if such Kannada festivals continued to be held, there was hope for the preservation of Kannada.According to him, while the farmer was the first son of the land, the soldier who guarded the border, risking his life, was the second son. He added that many great poets have contributed to spreading the grandeur of Kannada literature worldwide.Earlier in the day, the conference president was escorted to the stage by various folk art groups and attractive tableaux.The event was graced by Gunanatha Swami of the Adichunchanagiri Mutt, Sringeri branch. MLA TD Rajegowda, Kannada Sahitya Parishat (KSP) district president Suri Srinivas, Koppa taluk KSP President GM Sriharsha, former KSP Presidents GS Nataraj, and others were present.
