This charming young man, who wrote poems under the pen name Sridhara (K. Siri) and made a name for himself in a limited circle, hailed from Eichalbommanahalli, near our place, and as far as I know, there was no flavor of letters there. In a small village by the side of the road, an illiterate and underprivileged young lady who grew up in a pastoral family, due to her talent, she completed her secondary and pre-graduation studies in a prestigious educational institution in Kottoor. Abhijata Meru Kavya Pratibha Sampanna, a young poet who started writing poems because of Kalidasa Samudaya, a literary enthusiast who has published a couple of poetry collections at this young age is our beloved Sridhar! Not only a young writer, but also a seasoned teacher of Kannada classics, the remarkable quality of this young writer’s personality is the inclusion of locality. Excavating local evidence remains, entering Arikuthara as a job and becoming a Chamarajagana, taking charge of farmers’ campaigns and being active in literary activities there. Amazingly, this Sridhara of ours is touring all over Chamarajanagar district. He engaged himself in the task of collecting the legends of every village there, writing and publishing a voluminous work on the history of the entire Chamarajanagar district. Now he has created this drama. He gave it the sonorous title of ‘Inner Untouchability’. Open untouchability can be remedied by law. But it is not easy to get rid of untouchability in a person’s mind. Mercury – Basava – Ambedkar! This dangerous untouchability will be eradicated only if the light of these Achandrarka Nanda Devigas floods the lower class society. Every character in this play voices this wish. My country today needs these creative young minds more than literal works.
K. Sridhar (K.Siri) Vijayanagar District. Kudligi Taluk. Born on 11-06-1995 as the fifth son of Mr. Ramappa and Siddalingamma in the village of Eichalabommanahalli. Presently serving as village accountant in Harave Hobli of Chamarajanagar district.
Youth Literature K. I have probably read all the works and all the articles of Sridhar (K. Siri). Looking at them with a very sensitive eye, writing any small thing in a beautiful manner is a testimony to his expression. What bothers them a lot is casteism and religious discrimination. Perhaps they have witnessed it since childhood. That pain is expressed here in the play “Inner Untouchability”. By using simple vernacular language, the picture of caste-religion discrimination has been depicted there. Odia should understand the beauty of language and the untouchability of theater. Even Pariya, who painfully articulates the expression that nature is aođe for all, is very good. Every one who has read the play should think about it.