Celebrating 50 Years of Siddalingaiah’s Landmark Poetry Collection, Hole Maadigara Haadu

About the event

Azim Premji University, in collaboration with the Dr Siddalingaiah Smaraka Pratishtana, Bengaluru, presents Retrospective: Hole Maadigara Haadu – 50 and Dr Siddalingaiah’s Legacy, as part of the University’s Samskruti Sambhrama series celebrating Karnataka’s cultural and literary heritage.

Dr Siddalingaiah was a pioneering Kannada poet, writer and activist who played a significant role in Dalit literature and the movement for social equality. His poetry gave voice to the struggles, experiences and aspirations of Dalit communities, affirming their dignity and self-respect. His important works include Hole Maadigara Haadu, Saaviraaru Nadigalu, Kappu Kaadina Haadu, Panchama and Ekalavya Urukeri.

One of his most celebrated poetry collections, Hole Maadigara Haadu, addresses caste discrimination and social injustice while asserting the struggle for dignity, equality and self-respect. The programme marks 50 years of this landmark collection and reflects on its enduring influence on Kannada literature and society.

The evening will feature a photographic exhibition on Dr Siddalingaiah’s life, writings and achievements, inaugurated by his wife, Smt. Rama Siddalingaiah. The exhibition will be open to the public from 17 to 23 Oct 2026.

Senior writer and President of B. M. Sri Pratishtana, Dr Byramangala Ramegowda, will speak about Dr Siddalingaiah’s life and literary contributions. His daughter, Dr Manasa, a trustee of the Dr Siddalingaiah Smaraka Pratishtana, will share personal memories of her father in a presentation titled My Father Siddalingaiah.

The event will also feature Nanna Janagalu, a theatrical performance based on Dr Siddalingaiah’s poems, presented by Ekatari Samskrutika Sanghatane, Mysuru. Directed by Devananda Varaprasad, with music direction by Dr H. Janardhan (Janni), the play brings the poet’s words and songs to life, reflecting the lives, struggles and aspirations of ordinary people.

About the play: Nanna Janagalu

Nanna Janagalu draws on the poetry of Dr Siddalingaiah, whose songs of struggle and resistance inspired people across Karnataka. His poetry gave expression to the experiences of ordinary people and encouraged them to question social inequalities. Through music and theatre, the performance celebrates his literary legacy and the continuing relevance of his ideas.

The play is presented by Ekatari Samskrutika Sanghatane, Mysuru, under the direction of Devananda Varaprasad, with music direction by Dr H. Janardhan (Janni).

About Ekatari Samskrutika Sanghatane

Ekatari Samskrutika Sanghatane is a Mysuru-based cultural organisation engaged in theatre, folk arts, painting, environmental awareness and literature. Through its diverse cultural initiatives, the organisation seeks to preserve and promote the ideas and values of influential thinkers and cultural leaders.

The event offers an opportunity to revisit Dr Siddalingaiah’s remarkable contribution to Kannada literature and reflect on the continuing significance of his poetry in conversations about equality, dignity and social justice.

All are welcome!

ಬನ್ನಿ, ಕರ್ನಾಟಕದ ಶ್ರೀಮಂತ ಸಾಂಸ್ಕೃತಿಕ ಮತ್ತು ಸಾಹಿತ್ಯಕ ಪರಂಪರೆಯನ್ನು ಸಂಭ್ರಮಿಸೋಣ!

Join us to celebrate the rich cultural and literary traditions of Karnataka!