The Silver Jubilee of ‘Triveni’

The Silver Jubilee of ‘Triveni’ was celebrated in the Krishnaraja Parishanmandiram (the Hall of the Kannada Sahitya Parishat), Bangalore, on the 20th and 21st November 1954, under the presidentship of Sri K. Balasubramania Iyer, B. A., B. L., M. L. C., of Madras.

‘TRIVENI’ SILVER JUBILEE CELEBRATIONS
BANGALORE, NOV. 20, 1954

Hon. Sri K. Hanumanthaiya, Mrs. K. Rajyalakshmi, K. Ramakotiswara Rau,
K. Balasubramania Iyer, V. T. Srinivasan, Navaratna Rama Rao

K. Ramakotiswara Rau, K. Balasubramania Iyer, Masti Venkatesa Iyengar,
V. T. Srinivasan, Navaratna Rama Rao

K. Chandrasekharan, V. Bhaskaran, K. Ramakotiswara Rau, D. C. Subbarayappa,
K. Balasubramania Iyer, K. Venkateswara Rao, Masti Venkatesa Iyengar,
H. V. Ramaswami, G. V. Gundappa, V. Sitaramiah, Nittoor Srinivasa Rau,
M. Sivakamayya, Bhavaraju Narasimha Rao, A. N. Moorthy Rao

K. Venkateswara Rau, M. Sivakamayya, V. T. Kumar, K. Ramakotiswara Rau,
V. Bhaskaran, K. Sampathgiri Rao, Bhavaraju Narasimha Rao, Master Srinivasan,
V. T. Srinivasan, B. P. Saradhy, Krishnamurti and other members of the Committee.

(Left to Right) K. Chandrasekharan (Member, Advisory Board)
K. Venkateswara Rau (Editor, Triveni)

(Left to Right) K. Venkateswara Rau (Editor, Triveni)
The Late Sri Adivi Bapiraju (First Associate Editor)

There was a public meeting on the 20th November at 5.30 P.M. The proceedings began with an invocation by Sri M. S. Chandrasekhariah who sang verses in Sanskrit, Kannada and Telugu. Rajasevaprasakta Sri Masti Venkatesa Iyengar, Chairman of the ‘Triveni’ Silver Jubilee Committee, made the following welcome speech:

Sriman Balasubramania Iyer, Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is with a great deal of pleasure and a sense of privilege that I rise to welcome all of you to this gathering this evening. It is by mere chance that I am the Chairman of the Committee in charge of this celebration of the Silver Jubilee of ‘Triveni’. Any one of several gentlemen or ladies present in the gathering could have played the part that I am playing. Sir, to them, as to me, and indeed to all who have gathered here, ‘Triveni’ is dear. It owns all of us. And in a sense all of us own it. We are, therefore, just a house party.

I have known our friend Sri Ramakotiswara Rau for some twenty-three years now. It was about the same time that I came to know our mutual friend Sri Chandrasekharan of Madras. I came to know his brother, our respected President of this evening, somewhat later. Ever since that time the feeling has grown stronger in me that we are all children of one land and of one culture, members of one household. No one has done more to strengthen this feeling in me than our friend Sri Ramakoti. We, children of this country of ours, speak many different languages. We are nevertheless members of one house, a large house with many mansions. “In my father’s house,” says the Bible, “are many mansions.” India is such a house.

This is a truth that our fathers knew though we of a later date, thanks to our English education, seem to have forgotten it. My grandfather who lived in a village and had at no time gone any long distance from it, repeated when pouring on his head, while bathing every day, the not very clear water of his village well the mantra, Gangecha Yamunechaiva, Godavari, Saraswati etc. He could invoke the waters of the seven sacred rivers of Bharatavarsha. It was one land to him. This sense weakened in a later generation, and now with independence and a wrong notion of language patriotism, things have grown worse. It is in consequence of this that we have at the present day problems like those of Bellary and Parlakimidi. Given some time, given a little thought, the problem will, however, solve itself.

We speak different languages, but considering what we speak, these are not so much languages as dialects of one language that we may call the language of India. No such language is current, but all our languages practically derive from it and have grown on it. I saw in the Botanical Gardens in Calcutta some years ago a large grove of Banyan trees, which have sprung from one parent tree. The parent tree is not to be seen now. But as they are sprung from a common parent, these trees are linked to one another and all of them form one tree. The position of our languages is just this. That is a grove of trees and one tree. There are twelve languages, yet one language.

My own case is an illustration of this truth about our languages. The language I speak at home is Tamil, of a sort. But my mother-tongue is Kannada. I am by no means a stray case in this respect. People like me realise, perhaps better than the average of our countrymen, that whereas in other countries the man has one language which he calls his mother-tongue, here we have, each of us, one mother-tongue and a large number of aunt-tongues. Aunts are a feature of Indian homes and we have them in our language household. They should be all of them dear to all of us.

I have always admired Sri Ramakoti for the brave manner in which he has carried on his work. He began his ventnre at a promising time, but very soon things became difficult. Others who started such ventures gave them up, but our friend Ramakoti has persisted in the face of difficulties. It did not pay its way. He has always used the best paper, employed the best printing and given the magazine a sumptuous get-up. He has spent his own money and other money generously given by his friends, and kept up a high standard. In this respect he puts me in mind of a respected elder of ours, the late B. Venkatanaranappa, who some forty years ago ran a high-class scientific magazine in Kannada forthree years.

I have mentioned friends who have helped the magazine generously. Among them are the household of the great Sri V. Krishnaswami Iyer of Madras. Our President of today is the worthy son of that worthy patron of all good causes. When Gokhale asked for some help from Sri Krishnaswami Iyer, Sri Krishnaswami Iyer sent Rs. 10,000 and regretted that he could send no more at the time! That shows the type of man that Sri Krishnaswami Iyer was. Sri Balasubramaniam and his brother and sister have upheld the generous tradition of their great father and came to the help of persons like Sri Ramakoti working in public causes. We all agree that the cause and the worker deserved the help.

What I have said will explain why the organisers of this celeberation were particular that Sri Balasubrama.nia Iyer should preside over it. When we made the request to him he observed that there are many people more important than himself, who could preside over the celebration appropriately. We, however, felt that there was a special appropriateness in his presiding and are very grateful that he finally agreed.

I would bring to your notice the other feature which I consider specially appropriate about this function. ‘Triveni’ is a magazine in English edited by a worker from the Andhra. We who have organised this function in Karnataka and have invited as President a personage from Tamilnad. Thus we wish to symbolise our unity in spite of different mother-tongues.

What I have said about the difficulties encountered by our friend Sri Ramakoti in running ‘Triveni’ should not be taken as the statement of a problem relating to a particular person or place or time. The problem of ‘Triveni’ has been the problem of a high-class journal. It has been a problem in every place and time. Middleton Murry could not run his ‘Adelph’ for more than a few years, and Macmillans with all their resources, stopped issuing the ‘Realist’ after some 12 or 14 numbers. The high-class journal is necessary in civilized society and, if it is to run, the journalist who runs it is necessary. The Journal has to live; the journalist has to live. How is this to be accomplished but by the cultured people of the land and Governments taking special trouble to help such causes? The problem is specially important in our Country. The population that can take in a high-class journal is very small. A good part of it does not know the problem and another good part of it might not afford the expense. It is, therefore, the duty of those who care for such work to render all the help they can and also express to the workers their recognition of the service they are rendering.

Permit me to say to Sri Ramakoti today that this is what we are doing. We are proud that he has been able to run his magazine so long. At the same time we are not thinking of this occasion as marking the conclusion of any period. We are thinking of it as the beginning of another period of strenuous endeavour and noble service. We wish Sri Ramakoti to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of the magazine and in due time other jubilees. I might also report to the assembly something of which we have heard only now and which is a good augury for the future. Knowing that Sri Ramakoti is at the end of his resources, I took it upon myself to consult some friends sometime ago, and, requesting Sri Ramakoti not to object, I wrote to our Sahitya Akademi and the Education Ministry of the Union Government, asking for some help for him. I am glad to say that the Government of India have sanctioned Sri Ramakoti a monthly allowance of Rs. 100 for a year. I expect that the allowance will continue from year to year. It is not very much, but that is not the line on which I would think about this allowance. I value it as an indication of the recognition by our National Government of the service rendered by a selfless worker in the cause of culture.

I am also happy to report that Sri Ramakoti’s completion of sixty years of life has by chance coincided with the celebration of the Silver Jubilee of the publication of his magazine. According to our people’s belief, a man at sixty starts on a second lap of his life’s journey. All of us are very happy that Sri Ramakoti should be doing this and tender him our felicitations and good wishes for the future.

In these felicitations and good wishes, we associate with him Soubhagyavathi Rajyalakshmamma Ramakoti, his gracious and loving partner who has stood by him in all his tapas, smiling and cheerful in life. May the light of that smiling and cheerful companionship shine on his path all the days of his life!

And now, Sir, I beg you to take up your task as President and conduct the business of our gathering.

Sri Krishnamurti read the messages that had been received for the occasion. Two Vaidik Brahmins then chanted Vedic mantras, and presented new clothes with suitable blessings to Sri and Mrs. Ramakotiswara Rau on behalf of the Celebration Committee on the occasion of Sri Ramakotiswara Rau attaining the 61st birthday. The President of the evening, Sri K. Balasubramania Iyer, then delivered the following address.

PRESIDENT’S SPEECH

After thanking Sri Masti Venkatesa Iyengar and other organisers for asking him to preside over the Silver Jubilee Celebration, Sri Balasubrahmania Iyer said:

Friends,

When I heard that the Silver Jubilee of ‘Triveni’ would be shortly celebrated, I felt a thrill of joy and a supreme sense of satisfaction that ‘Triveni’, in spite of many difficulties, had successfully completed twenty-five years of its existence and that my dear friend, Sri K. Ramakotiswara Rau, whose pet child it is, has also attained 60 years of age, a few weeks ago.

‘Triveni’ is really the devout offering of heroic self-sacrifice by Sri Ramakotiswara Rau at the altar of the Muses. What a fine name it has! Sri Ramakotiswara Rau himself says that the name, like the whole scheme of the Journal, came to him like a flash, and that he adopted it since it sounded so beautiful. It so aptly connotes the aim, scope and spirit of the Journal. As you all know, the Sanskrit word ‘Triveni’ means the confluence of the triple streams of Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati. In the spiritual plane it signifies the convergence of the triple spiritual energies running through the Ila, Pingala and Sushumna nadis of the human body. Likewise, this Journal is devoted to the triple streams of culture, namely, art, literature, and history, and it is conducted in the spirit of “a votive offering to Him who is the source of the Triple Stream of Love, Wisdom, and Power, towards whom converge the self-same streams of Bhakti, Jnana, and Karma.” Thus the word imports a commingling, a unification and a synthesis. Strangely enough it has had a triple home, in Madras, Bangalore, and Masulipatam.

The aim of the Journal has always been to give adequate expression to the fundamental unity, of Indian Culture, and to present a synthesis of the ideas and thoughts contained in the different regional languages of our country. The flow of culture through the medium of the various languages of our people may be apparently in different channels. But to the discerning mind they all converge into a single stream. A very attractive and edifying feature of the Journal has been the translation of the masterpieces of the different literatures of our country into English, so that the reader unacquainted with the language of any one of the literatures may appreciate its beauties.

‘Triveni’ has also tried to present to the reader the products of the new Indian Renaissance movement in Art and literature. The Editor himself is a product of the Renaissance in Andhra, of which the first visible expression was the establishment of the Andhra Jatheeya Kalasala at Masulipatam by one of the foremost leaders of the movement, the late Kopalle Hanumantha Rao. For a time Sri Ramakotiswara Rau was Principal of the Kalasala, especially when Mahatma Gandhi visited the institution. Imbued with the spirit of this Renaissance, Sri Ramakotiswara Rau launched this Journal. Within two years, the Journal made its mark and earned the approbation of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru in 1930. But even so early, the Editor writes:

“If, in December 1927, I had foreseen even a fraction of the suffering the ‘Triveni’ was destined to cause its Editor, this frail bark would never have been launched. But having once launched it, I am bound to keep it afloat.”

Friends! Sri Ramakotiswara Rau, as we all know, is made of the stuff of heroes and martyrs. With a determined courage and invincible spirit of self-sacrifice, he tried to overcome all obstacles and financial crises. With a single-minded devotion to the ideal, he has managed to maintain the Journal all these years. In spite of the fact that it has had a chequered career, it has done splendid service to the cause of Indian Culture. It has always provided a rich repast to the most fastidious reader. Years , a poet-friend of his described him aptly as a lonely pilgrim pursuing a thorny path, with no protection against the scorching midday sun, hoping yet that, at any moment, the shrine of the Goddess may burst into view.

Ramakotiswara Rau brought to bear upon the conduct of the Journal his noble qualities of head and heart, and his great abilities as a journalist. He has gifts of a rare kind. He has a flair for friendship and a unique faculty of discovering talent and aptitude among his contributors. He was able to enlist the patronage and co-operation of such eminent men as Sir P. S. Sivaswamy Aiyer, Sir M. Ramachandra Rao, Sri Masti Venkatesa Iyengar, Sri C. Rajagopalachariar, Dr. C. P. Ramaswami Aiyar, Sri Sri Prakasa, Sri R. R. Diwkar, Sri C. Jinarajadasa, Dr. S. Radhakrishnan, Dr. B. Pattabhi Sitaramayya, and Prof. K. T. Shah. The last four became members of the Advisory Board of the Journal. May I mention, in passing, that my sister Savitri Ammal and my brother Chandrasekharan were among the earliest contributors to ‘Triveni’? They are now members of the Advisory Board.

I am tempted to quote the words of the Rt. Hon. V. S. Srinivasa Sastri which, in imitable phraseology, aptly describe the work and worth of the Journal:

“The ‘Triveni’ is a high-class production–bright and elegant. Its appeal is to a highly cultivated, select few. To make it succeed is a difficult task. The men and women, among us, who combine taste, judgment, leisure and means are not many. I am inclined to congratulate you on the success youhave attained. I wish somehow the writers and subscribers would try to make it possible for you to keep up the beautiful ‘Triveni’.”

It is impossible to improve upon this language. I can only say that Sri Sastri’s wish, as regards the writers, has been amply fulfilled, but, as regards the subscribers, it has not been realised. Yes, ‘Triveni’ has evoked enthusiasm in the hearts of kindred spirits; many talented young men of taste and culture have from time to time responded to the call of the Editor in a magnificent way.

It is natural on an occasion like this to contemplate a little about the future of journals published in English and devoted to Art and Letters. Periodicals can never compete, in point of financial success, with daily newspapers which deal with events and topics of daily interest to the public. But the future of periodicals published in English presents a special problem. Owing to the formation of linguistic States and the increasing importance given to the regional languages, the leadership in periodicals will naturally vest in papers conducted in Indian languages. But the opinion is slowly gathering strength that English should be retained as a language of study in high schools and in colleges, and for many years to come it will be the medium of instruction in Universities. English has also attained great importance as a world language in which diplomats have to confer and embassies have to conduct their work. The inflow of knowledge into India from the other parts of the world can only take place in the English medium and not in any other. Considering all these factors, the future of the existing periodicals in English need not be considered to be gloomy.

So far as ‘Triveni’ is concerned, its chief difficulty has been one of finance and paucity of subscribers. I take this occasion to appeal to persons of cultivated tastes and literary aptitude among our people to patronise the Journal in large numbers.

At the present day, there are unfortunate fissiparous tendencies manifesting among our people, and in the flush of enthusiasm for the promotion and improvement of the regional languages, rivalries and prejudices and even hatred have begun to emerge among the votaries of the different tongues; and the fundamental unity of Indian Culture, which has persisted throughout India’s long history, in spite of the numerous diversities prevalent in the country, is in jeopardy of being lost sight of. ‘Triveni’ which aims at giving expression to this fundamental unity and to foster the spirit of synthesis isreally wanted at this juncture.

It may be that in the modem conception of a Welfare State with its ambition to raise the standard of living, politics, economics and technology may play a great part, and absorb the attention of our people. But culture is necessary for the development of the human personality which is one of the chief aims of Democracy, and culture will have to play a vital part if Democracy is to function properly in a well-ordered society. I am glad to find that the Union Government have recognised this need and established Academies of Art and Letters. We therefore hope that ‘Triveni’ will have a bright future, and we wish a long and happy life of useful service for our friend, Sri Ramakotiswara Rau.

Sri V. T. Kumar, Secretary of the Celebration Committee, then presented a report. The report recounted how the idea of celebrating the Silver Jubilee of ‘Triveni’ originated at a party given in honour of Sri Ramakotiswara Rau some months ago by the Telugu Sahiti Samiti of Bangalorc. A Committee was formed on the occasion with Sri Masti Venkatesa Iyengar as Chairman. Appeals were printed and friends of ‘Triveni’ were addressed in the matter. Though no systematic drive for collection was undertaken, it was gratifying that over Rs. 1,300 was collected in response to the appeal. (After meeting the expenses a sum of Rs. 450 was made over to Triveni Publishers, Masulipatam, to enable them to bring out the Silver Jubilee Number.)

This was followed by a short Veena performance by Smt. M. Sharadamma.

Sri V. T. Srinivasan (Principal, Vijaya College), Treasurer of the Celebration Committee, then read the following Address which was enclosed in an artistic sandalwood casket mounted on a rosewood pedestal, with the ‘Triveni’ emblem embosesd in silver.

THE ADDRESS

Dear friend and brother,

It is with feelings of genuine pride and pleasure that we, your friends from many places and various walks of life, greet you today and rejoice with you that it has been granted to you to see Triveni, the great magazine which you began publishing twenty-seven years go, reach the twenty-fifth volume.

Triveni has been, as you intended it to be, the magazine of our country’s cultural renaissance. In the course of the twenty-seven years through which it has been serving the country, it has brought the work of writers in all the Indian languages to the notice of fellow-Indians in other parts of the country, and steadily built up among our people the consciousness that all our writers, in whatever language, they fight be writing, are servants of one culture that we love as being Indian. It must have been obvious to many that there was need for this kind of service and many of them had perhaps more of the resources that the work would lay under contribution; but it was given to you only to take it up as your own and to labour in it with a zeal that has known no fatigue and no weariness.

In this task which you placed on yourself, you began work taken up later on by the P. E. N. under the guidance of our sister Sou. Sophia Wadia, and now by the Bharathiya Sahithya Akademi sponsored by the Central Government. You have spent yourself in the service which you took up and are now poor in material resources as only the best servants of Truth can be. The magazine has never received from our people the support it deserved; but this is the case with a high-class magazine anywhere. You, however, have held on to its publication as a duty and have now the satisfaction that the service you have rendered is held in high esteem by all lovers of our country and our literature and culture.

We who have watched you wrestling manfully with your self-imposed responsibility have thought that it is only proper to pay you our tribute of affection and esteem on this account, in this the Silver Jubilee Year of the magazine.

We are grateful that you have agreed to be present at this gathering called for that purpose and to receive that tribute. We tender you our felicitations on what you have achieved so far and sincere good wishes for the future. It is our earnest wish that the importance of the work you are doing should receive wider recognition and that you should be enabled to carry it on, while health and strength permit, with greater ease and comfort and no feeling that it is an unavailing struggle.

We note also the coincidence that you have now completed sixty years of life. Man according to our people’s belief starts on a second lap of life’s journey at this age. We beg leave to felicitate you today on this account too. May the Power that guides and shelters men’s lives vouchsafe to you many more years of work in the service of our country and fellowmen!

In offering these greetings and good wishes we beg leave to associate with you your Dharmapatni Sou. Rajyalakshmamma who has stood with you in all your struggles, uncomplaining and cheerful, bright and smiling. It is our earnest prayer that this noble and loving companionship may continue to shed its light on your path in all the years to come.

With which sincere good wishes and greetings we beg to subscribe ourselves,

Dear friend and brother,

YOUR FRIENDS AND ADMIRERS

Srimathi Rajyalakshmamma (Mrs. Ramakotiswara Rau) then rose amidst cheers, and made a brief Telugu speech acknowledging with gratitude the honours that had been showered upon her husband and herself by the Celebration Committee. She recalled the history of ‘Triveni’ from the day it was started in Madras–its finding a hospitable home in Bangalore from 1942, its return to Madras and lastly its publication from Masulipatam. The ‘Triveni’ was an expression of great ‘shakti’ and its Editor and contributors kept it alive in a spirit of dedication. It faced great troubles and even extinction; but their was something in it which enabled it to survive and continue its service. That was because it focussed the fine aspirations of many good and sincere souls.

FELICITATIONS

Then followed a series of speeches of felicitation.

Rajakaryaprasakta Sri Navaratna Rama Rao, who spoke first, made the following speech:

Mr. President, beloved guests, ladies and gentlemen,

I am very grateful to you for giving me this opportunity of offering my felicitations to Sri Ramakotiswara Rau and to the lady, his partner in life and work. In doing so, I am confident I speak for all of us here. I admit that there are many present who have known him longer than I. But I certainly do not yield to any in my admiration and appreciation of him. On this happy occasion, I take the honour of welcoming him into the distinguished order of old age to which I myself belong. I call it distinguished, not because I belong to it, but because it contains such illustrious members as Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Sri T. Prakasam, Sir Visvesvaraya, Sri Rajaji, Dr. Pattabhi and our President today, and Sri Venkatesa Iyengar himself. The President said that the Silver Jubilee marked the beginning of a new era, and so it does. And may this new era be one of peace, plenty and glory to both Ramakotiswara Rau and his beloved ‘Triveni’! I must congratulate the Government of India on its recognition of his work,–late and scanty though that recognition be. I am sure that his own State will be more generous in its appreciation. Governments in honouring such causes honour themselves.

So much that is good has been said, and can be said, about Sri Ramakotiswara Rau that I think I must now venture on a warning. His company is an excellent remedy against depression and defeatism, but it is apt to grow into a habit. I myself am a sad example. The first time I met him I liked him. The second time, I liked him very much. The third time, he became indispensable; and now I am a hopeless addict–and I am afraid I am incurable. Gentlemen, on behalf of you all, I wish Sri Ramakotiswara Rau and his wife all happiness and prosperity.

Sri D. V. Gundappa was the next speaker. He said:

I am very happy to associate myself with this evening’s function. My attitude to Ramakoti and his Journal is one of admiration and thankfulness. I do not know whether it is proper for me to give him praise or congratulation, because I have always counted myself as part of ‘Triveni’. If, therefore, I said nice things about the Journal, it would be like complimenting myself. I have always regarded it as a privilege to appear in the Journal. Frankly speaking, my artices have not always been in line with the kind of subjects which are a speciality of the Journal. I am a prosaic  man interested in public affairs, as you know. But Ramakoti found accommodation for what I wrote and also sent me cheques, which were most welcome. I am therefore interested in the success of the Journal, even from the point of view of self-interest.

Reference has been made to the fact that the Journal has not been a financial success. But financial success is not the only success one cares for. Ramakoti has enough philosophy in him not to take a tragic view of his losses and his sufferings. He has given his all to the Journal and found comfort in the very act of giving,–like the king who, according to a Sanskrit poet, impoverished his treasury by making charities to the poor and the needy or the good soldiers who had suffered battle-scars. If Ramakoti has not attained success in the usual sense, he is confident and happy that he has served a cause. That cause is two-fold,–one of promoting intercommunication among those working in different Indian languages; and taking the message of India to the world abroad. The Journal is therefore entitled to the support of all cultured people in India. I hope it will enlist more subscribers. The past twenty-five years were a period of struggle for the nation, and the political struggle absorbed the country’s resources somewhat to the neglect of its cultural life. Now that the country is independent, we are in a period of consolidation as regards our national life. At such a time a Journal like ‘Triveni’ has a large part to play in the service of its twofold purpose. The future of ‘Triveni’ therefore is, and ought to be, a matter of deep personal concern to all of us. May the Journal flourish and go on to its Golden and its Diamond Jubilee!

My hearty good wishes to Ramakoti and Mrs. Ramakoti.

The Chief Minister, Sri K. Hanumanthaiya, who was present, was requested to say a few words. He rose amidst cheers, and referred to Sri Masti Venkatesa Iyengar’s personal letter to him. He held Sri Masti in such high esteem that he gladly responded to his invitation. When he learnt that Sri Ramakotiswara Rau was being felicitated in connection with the Silver Jubilee Celebration of ‘Triveni’, he felt it was a great event. He had profited by coming to the function and listening to the speech’s that had been made.  He appreciated the work of ‘Triveni’ in the cultural sphere. He hoped that the Journal would continue to serve the country for many years and that Sri Ramakotiswara Rau would continue to serve the Journal. He wished ‘Triveni’ all success.

Sri Katuri Venkateswara Rao, Sri M. Sivakamayya. (Associate Editor), Prof. N. N. Moorthy Rao (President, Kannada Sahitya Parishat), Sri V. Sitaramiah (President, Kannada Literary Conference, Sri K. Chandrasekharan, Dr. D. Gurumurti and Sri Bhavaraju Narasimha Rao then followed and offered felicitations.

EDITOR’S REPLY

Sri K. Ramakotiswara Rau, in acknowledging the felicitations, recalled that ‘Triveni’ was inaugurated in Madras on the 25th of December 1927, before a distinguished gathering of poets, artists and scholars. A talented lawyer-friend from his home-town (Narasaraopet, Guntur Dist.), Sri Chavali Venkata Krishnaiya, presided on the occasion. He passed away before the end of the first year. Sri Adivi Bapiraju, poet and painter, prepared the first Cover-design and worked as Associate Editor. Sri C. Jinarajadasa wrote the first article on “New Beginnings in Indian Culture”. Friends like K. S. Venkataramani and Justice V. Govindarajachari took great interest in ‘Triveni’. It was sad to think that none of these was with them for the Jubilee. He Wished to refer to some other friends who were no more, but there was a risk of his breakingdown.

He was exceedingly happythat ‘Triveni’ had survived many crises and was celebrating the Silver Jubilee. The idea of a Silver Jubilee was first mooted by him 18 years ago, in the course of a conversation with Sri K. Chandrasekharan on the sands of the Marina in Madras. That was a very dark day for ‘Triveni’. It seemed impossible to continue the Journal and Sri Chandrasekharan was even more worried than himself. It became his duty to cheer up Sri Chandrasekharan by talking of the future and of the Silver Jubilee. That dream was fulfilled this day, and he was grateful to his esteemed brother, Sri Masti Venkatesa Iyengar, and other friends who had organised this beautiful function. The carved sandalwood casket in which their Address was enclosed redeem him of a similar casket he sent as a birthday gift to a pretty little girl in Berhampore forty years ago, while he was a Law student in Madras. She was present on this occasion to share the honours, even as she had shared his struggles.

At the end of fourteen years, ‘Triveni’ migrated to Bangalore early in 1942, as it was difficult to carryon the work in Madras in the conditions created by the second world war. Loving hands were stretched forth to welcome her. ‘Triveni’ flourished in her new home under the devoted care of Sri Sampathgiri Rao, even when the Editor was in a detention camp for two years. That was a formative period in the life of ‘Triveni’ and Bangalore became dearer than any other home.

Among the speakers that evening were the friends from Masulipatam, Sri Sivakamayya, Associate Editor and Sri Bhavaraju Narasimha Rao, the Publisher. But for them, ‘Triveni’ could not have survived the crisis of 1949. His poet-friend Sri Katuri Venkateshwara Rao, had read a Telugu poem specially composed for the occasion, in which he reffered to ‘Triveni’ as an incarnation of goddess Lakshmi. Yes, she had been pleased to take this shape to bless him and his wife. She was their only child, and more precious than any mortal child could be. He had just completed sixty years. He was fatigued, but right glad that younger men had been found who could be trusted to continue the Journal, and to take it to loftier heights of achievement. This was a re-union of various branches of the ‘Triveni’ family. After many years of strain, he was carefree and full of hope. He thanked them all.

Kumaris Geeta and Vedapushpa (of the Sanatana Kalakshetra) gave a brief Bharata Natya performance which was much appreciated. The President offered silver cups to the young artistes on behalf of the Committee, and made a few concluding remarks, expressing his pleasure at the atmosphere of love and friendliness which prevailed during that evening’s meeting. The pleasant function came to a close with a vote of thanks proposed by Sri K. Sampathgiri Rao.

On Sunday the 21st at 5-30 P. M., there was a dramatic entertainment in the same place. The following scenes were enacted; Hindi: Chowpat Chand; Marathi: Vedi Palaji; Telugu: Kanyasulkam; and Kannada: Vaidyana Vyadhi.

Messages of congratulation and good wishes were received from:

Dr. B. Pattabhi Sitaramayya, Nagpur; Srijuts C. Rajagopalachari, Madras; Aka Lakshmi Narasimham, Guntur; Sri Prakasa, Madras; Justice P. V. Rajamannar, Madras; Hon. Sri D. V. Karmarkar, Delhi; Maganbhai P. Desai, Editor, Harijan; Prof. M. Venkatarangaiya, Madras; Pingali Lakshmikantam, Vijayawada; P. Kodanda Rao, Bangalore; N. Krishnamurti, Trivandrum; Prof. T. Virabhadrudu, Secunderabad; M. Somasekhara Sarma, Madras; Chinta Dikshitulu, Narsapur; Prof. Kalipada Mukherjee, Bankura; Prof. P. Goswami, Gauhati; Prof. R. S. Mugali, Sangli; K. Ramakrishnayya, Tirupati; Jayantilal Thakore, Bangalore; Prof. A. N. Gupta, Bhopal; Prof. N. S. Phadke, Poona; M. Chalapathi Rau, Lucknow; Manjeri S. Isvaran, Madras; G. V. H. Rao. Delhi; D. V. Krishna Sastri, Madras; T. K. Venkatesan, Madras; V. Vasudeva Sastri, Masulipatam; Prof. K. V. Rao, Puri; Prof. K. V. K. Rao, Sambalpur; D. V. Narasimha Rao, Gudur-Krishna; V. Anandakrishna Rao, Masulipatam; Suri V. Subrahmanyam Coromandel; Smt. Vijayavalli, Mysore; A. Janaki Ram, Madras; E. Nageswara Rao, Waltair; Prof. P. S. Sastri, Saugor S. Rangaswami, Madras; T. Ramachandra Rao, Madras; Sitapathi Rao, Delhi; N. L. Prasad, Anantapur; Andhras of the Defence Accounts Dept., Secunderabad.