Scared to express frank opinion: Dr Kamala Hampana

There is anxiety among people whether Hitler culture is being created in the country, says Dr Kamala Hampana Earlier authors poets would get patronage from kings but had the freedom to criticise the patrons Poet Dr Siddalinagaiah said there is a declining interest in ancient works in students, teachers and scholars

“For the past three years we are clueless which way the country is progressing. Intellectuals are scared to express opinion on any platform. There is anxiety among people whether Hitler culture is being created in the country,” said writer and scholar Dr Kamala Hampana, reports Kannada Prabha.

She was speaking at a seminar of 'Mahakavi Pampa – yesterday today tomorrow' organised by the federation of Kannada Sanghas and Bengaluru district Kannada Sahitya Parishat  at the Kannada Sahitya Parishat on Tuesday.

Describing the humanitarian quotes of Mahakavi Pampa she said "Today instead of empowering the oppressed we are becoming dwarfs. We must adapt humanitarian religion. Today freedom of expression is being attacked. Becoming slaves to the ruling powers is resulting in adverse situations. We are scared to express freely and if we do so, we are not sure whether we will reach home, safe." 

In the olden times, authors and poets would get patronage from kings but had the freedom to criticise the patrons. Today we are scared even to express ourselves freely. The society is being gripped by fear, she said.

Speaking on the occasion, poet Dr Siddalinagaiah said there is a declining interest in ancient works among students, teachers and scholars. He expressed pain at neglecting the wealth of our ancient literature. In-depth knowledge is essential for study of ancient works and we have to get students to take interest in them, he said. "Kannadigas do not take pride in their heritage. That must be erased and we must inculcate pride in our heritage and culture in the youngsters," Siddalingaiah said.