Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (SP)

Mangalore, Feb 1: Bhadragiri Achuta Dasa, a reverred Harikatha artiste, has urged the government to accord recognition to Harikatha as an art form, and to arrange for payment of monthly pensions to the Harikatha artistes. “Harikatha is an art form in which stories of the Lord’s divine sport and from the epics or lives of the saints are told. A Harikatha artiste needs to be skilled in story telling, knowledge of contemporary issues, poetry, music, drama, dance and philosophy, to be able to be a competent artiste. This art has been in vogue since centuries. At present, only a few have won recognition in this field. They will be able to conserve the art and continue with it, only if they get proper encouragement,” he felt.

Dasa was speaking after accepting the ‘Malpe Shankaranarayana Samaga Award’ conferred on him at a function organized at Town Hall here on Sunday January 31. He added that he has already held talks with Paryaya Sri Lakshmivarateertha Swamiji of Shirur Mutt, regarding the proposed project of recording the ‘Keerthane’ (prose component of Harikatha) of the Haridasas for carrying over this legacy to the next generation.  He hoped that this will help the next generation to know about this art form, which does not have many artistes as at present.

He expressed elation at receiving the award, reminiscing that the late Samaga, ace Yakshagana artiste, had been jailed for participating in the freedom movement, and that he had always practised Gandhian principles in his life. He said that the conferring of the award named after such a great artiste and personality, was indeed, a great honour to the tradition of Harikatha. The award comprises of Rs 10,000 in cash and a citation.

District in-charge minister, Krishna Palemar, who handed over the award and honoured Achuta Dasa, hoped that Dasa, who has served the field of Harikatha art since the last five decades, will soon be able to get the ‘Padma Shri’ award.

Writer and Ashtavadhani, Kabbinale Vasant Bhadhwaj, in his introductory remarks, hailed Dasa for developing a unique style of telling the stories that has captivated lacs of listeners since the last several decades. Writer, Erya Laksminarayan Alva, State Bank of India assistant general manager, Chaitanya Tallur, and Karnataka Bank general manager, Jayaram Hande, were present.

After the felicitation function, a Yakshagana episode, ‘Vali Moksha – Sri Krishna Karunya’, was presented.