Writers, intellectuals condemn Kamal Haasan’s Kannada remark

Writers, artists, linguists, intellectuals and Kannada activists staging a protest in Dharwad on Monday. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

Scores of writers, artists, linguists, intellectuals and Kannada activists staged a day-long protest in Dharwad on Monday in protest against the recent remark made by veteran multi-lingual actor Kamal Haasan on the origin of Kannada language.

During the protest spearheaded by Karnatak Vidyavardhakh Sangha, the protestors staged a sit-in in front of the office of the Deputy Commissioner in Dharwad and condemned in strong words the remark and the subsequent statement of the actor.

The protest was in pursuance of the decisions taken during the recent consultative meeting of the sangha after the actor refused to apologise for his remark.

Addressing the protestors, president of the sangha Chandrakanth Bellad, general secretary Shankar Halagatti and others, including writers and intellectuals, strongly condemned the adamant behaviour of the actor, despite the strong criticism and a series of protest across the State against him on the issue.

They said that the veteran actor is behaving in an irresponsible manner even after a court gave him an option to apologise for his remark.

The speakers clarified that the sangha has no opposition either to Tamil language or Tamil-speaking people as it is a known fact that languages originating from Proto-Dravidian language evolved into different languages.

They also further clarified that their protest is not against Tamil language or Tamils but against an irresponsible statement by Kamal Haasan and his subsequent conduct.

The protestors demanded that he withdraw his baseless statement on Kannada language, express regret and apologise to Kannadigas. If he failed to do so, the sangha will be compelled to launch an intense State-wide agitation, they said.

Published - June 09, 2025 06:51 pm IST