Karnataka Rajyotsava 2019: Poet Nisar Ahmed bats for state flag, says there's no celebration without it
Karnataka Rajyotsava is celebrated on November 1 every year as the formation day. The state is decorated with flags, pandals and the sounds of the state anthem ‘Jaya Bharata Jananiye Tanujate’ echo across Karnataka. On this special day, we spoke to a renowned poet KS Nisar Ahmed, who penned the popular song ‘Nityotsava’, about the significance of this special day.
FollowBengaluru: Karnataka Rajyotsava is celebrated every year on November 1. It is the formation day of the state of Karnataka and is celebrated with great pomp every ear. To mark the 64th anniversary of the Karnataka Formation Day, chief minister BS Yediyurappa will hand out the Rajyotsava Award, which is the second-highest civilian honour in the state. This year, 64 personalities across various fields will be awarded.
On November 1, 1956 the state of ‘Mysore’ was formed by amalgamating all Kannada speaking districts in South India. This included Mysore, Kannada speaking areas of Bombay, Madras presidencies and Hyderabad.
However, it was reorganised as Karnataka on November 1, 1973, when Devraj Arasu was the chief minister. On this occasion, we at Asianet Newsable spoke to one of the most iconic poets that the state has ever witnessed - Nisar Ahmed.
Ahmed highlighted the difference the state has witnessed over the years in celebrating the day, his thoughts on the state flag among others. Speaking about the evolvement in celebrations now, Nisar Ahmed said that over the years many people have started celebrating it.
“About 50 years back, the government celebrated it just for a day in Town hall alone. But now, in every nook and corner, there are pandals, speakers, flags and celebrations,” added Ahmed.
The Karnataka flag came into existence in the 1960s, all thanks to Kannada writer and activist Ma Ramamurthy - who was one of the pioneers in reorganising the state. The flag has been used in several pro-Kannada movements as the symbol of the unity of Kannadigas, despite the fact that it is not official.
Nisar Ahmed insisted that the state flag must remain. “Every state is independent and if Karnataka Rajyotsava is celebrated without the state flag, it’ll look bald. Even if the government orders against the state flag, people will not accept it,” he added.
Asianet Newsable sought his opinion about the people of Gulbarga and Hyderabad-Karnataka demanding for a separate state, to which he replied that the people are angry right now which is why they have such demands.
“Due to floods and other such incidents, they’ve asked for a separate state, but Karnataka is one and it must remain unified,” stated Nisar Ahmed. Refraining to comment on the controversy around the Rajyotsava awards, Ahmed said he had no idea about how people are awarded.
In conclusion, the poet said that Karnataka is a state that boasts of rich cultural heritage and that is what sets the state apart from the rest. “Be it monuments, the culture, the heritage or even the scenery, no other state can beat Karnataka,” concluded Nisar Ahmed.
