Drama as a Guiding Light for Students and Youth Alongside Literacy: Dr. Manjunath Kotian


Udupi, January 20: In today’s era, drama serves as a guiding light for students and youth alongside literacy, playing a significant role in shaping the next generation, said Dr. Manjunath Kotian, Principal of Bhuvanendra College, Karkala.
He was speaking on Sunday after inaugurating the three-day Makarayana Natakotsava by playing the jambé percussion instrument. The event was organized at the open-air auditorium of the Koti Chennaya Theme Park in Karkala by Yaksha Rangayana, Karkala, in collaboration with the Kannada and Culture Department, Udupi.
“Drama, along with language, Kannada, and culture, should be integrated into daily life. Plays stimulate the expressed and the unexpressed, the visible and the invisible, the audible and the inaudible. If today’s youth think beyond textbooks and immerse themselves in Kannada dramas, there is no doubt they can become responsible citizens. Visionaries like U.R. Ananthamurthy and Girish Karnad were also deeply interested in promoting and supporting the world of drama,” he added.
Yaksha Rangayana Director B.R. Venkataramana Aithal, who presided over the event, stated, “Along with Yakshagana, dramas also impart wisdom in life. This festival has brought together many artists from North Karnataka, who will showcase the humor and uniqueness of their dialect. Watching plays not only entertains but also encourages artists.”
Ganesh Bheemankote, Manager of Nirdiganta Institution, attended the event. Purnima, Assistant Director of the Kannada and Culture Department and Special Officer of Yaksha Rangayana, welcomed the gathering. Retired teacher Vasanth compered the event and delivered the vote of thanks.