Nobody wins in a war, says Kuvempu University V-C Sharath Ananthamurthy

The Hindu

08-05-2025

Shivamogga
Nobody would win in a war, and the people with a lack of awareness of the impact of the war were expressing themselves with nationalistic fervour, said Sharath Ananthamurthy, Vice-Chancellor of Kuvempu University.
He was speaking at a discussion on poetry, Kavya Samvada, organised by Malenadu Chintakara Chavadi in Shivamogga on Wednesday.
After reading out the Kannada translation of Latvian poet Amanda Aizpuriete's poem War Lies at the Roadside, Prof. Ananthamurthy said, 'We are on the brink of a war. I have seen on the internet that everybody was speaking with nationalistic fervour. It is because we have not experienced the brutality of war. Nobody wins in a war. People exhibiting nationalism, thumping chests, is a dreadful scenario,' he stated.
Further, the Vice-Chancellor said it was worrisome to see children talking about war with no idea of its impact. 'We need to make them read poetry on war and understand its impact,' he opined. He also stressed the need for events to discuss poetry. 'Earlier, such meetings were regular in Bengaluru and Mysuru. I am happy that such meetings are happening here in Shivamogga as well.'
Two collections of translated poems — Kamalakara Kadave's Valase Hakkigala Huyilu and Jayashreenivasa Rao's Baltic Kadala Gaali – were discussed at the programme. Prof. Rajendra Chenni and Prof. Siraj Ahmed spoke about the translated works. Kamalakara Kadave and Jayashreenivasa Rao shared their experience of translating poetry into Kannada.