Dr Siddalingaiah. Photo: K. Bhagya Prakash, The Hindu

Bengaluru: Renowned writer Siddalingaiah will chair the three-day 81st Akhila Bharata Kannada Sahitya Sammelan at Shravanabelagola from February 1, 2015. It is the first time that a Dalit writer will chair the sammelan.

President of Kannada Sahitya Parishat (KSP), Pundalika Halambi announced the name of the Siddalingaiah at a press conference held in the city on Friday. His name was suggested by the KSP Executive members at the meeting held on Friday.

“Prof. Siddalingaiah was chosen not only because he is prominent Dalit writer, but also because he is a writer par excellence in Kannada literature,” Mr. Halambi said.

Prof. Siddalingaiah is a leading Kannada poet and intellectual. He is one of the founders of the Dalit Sangharsha Samiti along with Devenur Mahadeva and B. Krishnappa. He played a significant role in the Dalit movement in Karnataka in the 1970s and 1980s.

His prominent works are Hole Madigara Haadu, Saviraru Nadigalu, Kappu Kadina Haadu, Meravanige (complete works), Panchama and Nelasama (plays), Grama Devathegalu (Ph.D. thesis). Ooru Keri , his autobiography, created a sensation in Kannada literature. Besides being a member of Legislative Council, he also headed the Kannada Development Authority and the Kannada Book Authority.

Meanwhile, Pundalika Halambi said the Parishat will not hold Sahitya Sammelana from now on in case the state government fails to impart primary education in Kannada medium mandatorily within the deadline of one year given by KSP.