Kannada is a confluence of history, culture and diverse literary traditions: Priyank Kharge

Home Minister Priyank Kharge paying floral tributes to goddess Bhuvaneswari during the 71st Karnataka Rajyotsava Day celebrations in Kalaburagi on Sunday, November 1, 2026. | Photo Credit: Arun Kulkarni

Kannada is not merely a language but a confluence of emotions, history, ideas, and traditions, said Home Minister and Kalaburagi in-charge Priyank Kharge, highlighting Karnataka’s rich literary and cultural heritage on the occasion of the 71st Karnataka Rajyotsava celebrations on Sunday (November 1, 2026).

After unfurling the national flag at the Nagareshwara High School premises in the Gunj area of Kalaburagi, Mr. Kharge addressed the gathering and said Kannada has a history spanning nearly 2,000 years and an exceptionally rich and diverse literary tradition.

He recalled that more than 40 foreign ambassadors had recently been invited by the State government to participate in the Dasara celebrations. During his interaction with them, the ambassadors had expressed admiration for Karnataka’s art, literature, food and culture. They were particularly surprised to learn about the antiquity of the Kannada language and its literary heritage, he said.

Kannada literature encompasses a rich diversity of traditions, ranging from folk and Dasa Sahitya to Jain and the Bandaya literary movements. Such a wide-ranging literary spectrum is rarely found in any other language, he observed.

Explaining Karnataka’s cultural diversity, Mr. Kharge said the State represented different identities and aspirations for different regions and communities. While Malnad was known for its lush greenery, Kalyana Karnataka was celebrated as the land of tur dal and Sufi saints, and the Mandya region as the land of silk and milk. The coastal region represented a distinctive cultural identity.

He described Karnataka as a land of art and culture for writers, a land that propagated the message of equality for followers of Basavanna, a centre of knowledge for the world, a land of opportunities for the youth, and a hub of human resources for foreigners.

He added that Karnataka’s diversity and human resources had made a significant contribution to the country’s economic progress.

Emphasising the importance of preserving the State’s cultural heritage, Mr. Kharge said the present generation must protect its literature, history and traditions and pass them on to future generations.

Celebrating Rajyotsava once a year should not be the sole expression of pride in Karnataka’s heritage. There should be sustained efforts to familiarise younger generations with the State’s cultural and literary legacy, he said.

Creating an environment conducive to preserving this heritage was the responsibility of elected representatives, while citizens also had an important role to play, he added.

The Minister joined the procession and enthusiastically played the drums. Students from various educational institutions, officials from different departments and people from various walks of life participated in the celebrations.

Published - November 01, 2026 04:18 pm IST