Writers oppose inviting Bollywood beauties for the World Kannada meet

This year's World Kannada Literary meet may be devoid of some glamour as writers opposed inviting Bollywood beauties from Karnataka for the literary meet. The literary meet will be held at Davangere during December. 

At the previous and second World Kannada Meet held at Belagavi in 2011, the Yeddyurappa government had invited Bollywood actor Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, who hails from Karnataka, for the event. Aishwarya had made an attempt to greet everyone in her broken Kannada from a written speech as crowds cheered. But she soon switched to speak in Hindi, the language in which she is comfortable, much to the disappointment of many. 

The government was also criticised for inviting Infosys founder NR Narayana Murthy along with Aishwarya Rai for the Belagavi meet. For, Narayana Murthy who had inaugurated the meet spoke on the importance of English education."There were two mistakes committed at the last meet. We do not want these mistakes to happen," reports The Times of India quoting novelist Kum Veerabhadarappa.

"Please do not invite Aishwarya Rai or Deepika Padukone for the World Kannada Literary Meet. They may be from Karnataka but they don't even know to speak in Kannada. Also, they do not have any concern for the language and the state," was the suggestion made before Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

Instead, the government must recognise the achievers from Karnataka than just adding glamour to the meet. "Instead of Aishwarya, invite Saalumarada Thimmakka whose contribution to Bengaluru is immense. What has Aishwarya or Deepika done for the Karnataka," writers asked the chief minister.  There were suggestions to invite 'Bhart Ratna' and scientist Prof CNR Rao who studied in Kannada medium school and became the celebrated scientist.

• aishwarya rai
• deepika padukone
• world kannada meet
• karnataka