ಬೇ ಏರಿಯಾದಲ್ಲಿ ಬದುಕು ಏನು ಚೆಂದ ಏನು ಅಂದ

Dear Editor,

Life is Beautiful in the Bay Area

As a long term, (over 37 years) active member of the SF Bay Area Kannada community I am saddened by the meanness and ugliness of the comments at tk after the last Gokula Nirgamana presentation. I have witnessed and enjoyed its last two presentations and look forward to the next, to not only enjoy the play, but, more importantly to commend and encourage the monumental efforts and organization such a production requires which in turn helps keep our beloved community stronger.

In my view, some of the comments are a result of the lack of knowledge or misinformation about our organizations like KKNC and SIFA. For example the comment “South India Fine Arts (SIFA) is Tamil dominated “... Would the “visitor" make that comment, if he knew that SIFA was co-founded by a Kannadiga, it had its birth in a Kannada home and its first president was a Kannadiga? That honor for service belongs to me. SIFA is one of the most harmonious organizations in the Bay Area and admired by all artists as one of the best sabhas in the world, for over 30 years. And SIFA is open for any Kannadiga to take on the leadership responsibilities.

Life in our Bay Area is beautiful not only because of Gokula Nirgamana like plays, but also due to many other community organizations we have lovingly built and nourished over the past 40 years. Most organizations have celebrated their silver jubilees and growing stronger. Besides KKNC & SIFA, to name a few, we have Basant Bahar (Hindustani music), Abhinaya (Bharata Natya), Shiva Vishnu Devasthana, Fedreation of Indian Associations, FIA (Political), The Indus Entrepreneurs TIE (Business) Yuva Bharati (next Generation music & dance, TV broadcasts). All organizations were created by and are run by volunteers and there is no power in running them, only responsibility. And they all have a passionate Kannada connection. You see, I have had the honor of being a founder/president/director of each one of them. And I have always been the first one to step aside anytime some one capable steps up to do a better job than I can.

My request to our SF Bay Area Kannada community members, old or new, is not to try to spoil the beauty of our life style by injecting petty caste/group divisiveness. That has no place in our Silicon Valley and we won"t let it succeed. It was tried once before about 10 years ago here with no success. The rabble rousers then are nowhere to be seen. The old hands they criticized are all still here and serving the community.

We love the organizations we have built and nourished which are envied by other communities around the country.

How much do we love our organizations? Let me tell you, how I feel. It is like give birth to a beautiful baby girl, guide her to have a pleasant personality, introduce her to Bharatanatya and watch her progress to become a Ranga Pravesha star, applaud her accomplishment and follow her progress as she enters a top university, earns degrees, pursues a career that someday has a shot at a Nobel prize. And lives happily ever after.

This is the future vision/dream I have for our Bay Area Organizations... All of them can use your talents, time and treasury. If anybody wants to play a leadership role in any of the above listed organizations, I offer my help to introduce you to the current leadership.

I will be on the sidelines at the Sneak Sap Tami. Event on Saturday... You know my name and the face that goes with that name If you so wish, feel free to contact me...

When I was young, I read V.K. Goal"s Samara save Jeevana. Now my wish is to see Saamarasyave Jeevana in our beautiful SF Bay Area. Let us dismiss the labels, of Ayyangars, Kammes, Lingayats, Gowdas etc. But, let us take the first letter from each label and coin a new label/ word AKKALIGARU! If we all think ourselves as Akkaaligaru, we can march forward in harmony singing that readymade song for us “Akkaligrella Ondaagi Banni." How does this sound?

G.S.Satya, San Jose, CA